by Nenny May
Three slashes at the left corner of her neck…
She’d been strangled to death in her Tillamook home on Miller Avenue. Annabelle knew the story. It made sense. They’d needed her dead before Bernard Sutter, ever so time conscious arrived at the scene. They’d done everything in their power to kill her before he pulled into the fifty-six-year-old-woman’s Miller Avenue home. Annabelle couldn’t forget the facts. Tillamook couldn’t rid its mind of the elderly woman exiled from her own hometown. “Ten seconds. Simon doesn’t have all day.”
Lucy returned to the middle of the stage and switched on the microphone.
“What will she choose?” She’d asked the question rhetorically in her on-air voice, a hand gestured to the monitor behind Annabelle. “I have to say, Channel Six, this is exciting!”
“Don’t do it!” Chase yelled. “You’ve worked too damn hard to get where you are, Anna. For the first time, I want you to put yourself first, damn it, you deserve it!”
“Five,” Lucy Wilkens reminded Annabelle, fingers curled around the detonator. “Four,” Fear choked her. She was never going to be the selfish version of herself Chase wanted her to be. She was who she was. She was Annabelle, she cared about her friends and family. Their lives were in her hands. If burying her career was all it took to save countless lives, she would do it in a flutter of a second.
“Three,” And she would do it over and over again.
“Two,” She tapped on the publish button. The screen dulled. A circle swirled. Almost immediately a tick appeared. Her eyes squeezed shut.
Thunderous booming nearly rendered Annabelle unconscious. Instinctively, she dropped to her knees. Bullets rippled through the air. “Everybody get down!” A voice blared. “SWAT!” Another crash had Annabelle’s bowel releasing and dripping down her leg.
“Mrs. Wilkens, you’re under arrest for the murder of Blake Campbell, for conspiracy to commit murder, for attempted murder, and for attempted mass-suicide.” M16 rifles were lowered. Boots hammered over the stage, down the stairs and into the crowd. Arms rose in surrender. Shrieks of relief and panic filled the air as bodies clustered by the exit.
Annabelle stood, taking in the chaos. She’d gone head-to-head with a killer. All the while she’d been under the impression Lucy Wilkens was a bitter rival. Channel Nine was nothing more than an opponent news station. She couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Lucy Wilkens and the rest of the Channel Nine crew had gone as far as murdering a woman to boost their ratings. Annabelle wasn’t cut out for the journalism life. That hadn’t been what brought her to Tillamook. Electronics Engineering had. She’d opted for the role of a Broadcast Technician and settled for a position that nearly cost her life and the life of her loved ones.
Strong arms embraced her. Skittish and dampened from the waist down by her own urine, Annabelle pulled away from Chase Dawson’s grip. “For once in your goddamn life, Anna, you couldn’t be selfish?” He rose an unruly eyebrow. He didn’t have an off button. Even with their lives at risk, he’d managed to come up with one of his comments.
“We’re alive,” Her eyes pooled. He nodded; hands shoved in his pants pockets. Her hands covered her wobbling lips. “Naomi!” She kicked off her shoes and took the stairs two at a time off the stage. “Where’s Naomi?” She pushed through frenzied bodies. “Naomi!” She called at the top of her lungs.
She suppressed a shiver and drew to a sudden stop. Just when she’d thought it was over…
“Shit!” Chase hissed.
He couldn’t miss it. It was real. All too real. The crimson pool that grew by Rachel Olson’s limp body. Her legs and arms were twisted awkwardly. Amber skin bleached. “Don’t you dare die on me Olson!” Chase Dawson dropped to his knees. Shrugging off his blazer, he rolled it into a ball and pressed it over her bullet wound. She’d been shot in her lower abdomen and stepped on by the stampede of hysterical guests.
“Don’t just stand there Anna, get someone in here, NOW!”
Annabelle forced her legs to cooperate.
Detective Dawson drew Rachel to his chest. Her body lurched forward. She coughed, blood dripping from parted lips. It didn’t stop. “Stay with me, Olson. This is just your second fucking murder investigation,” His lips wobbled. He was half mad with panic. “How in hell are you going to get as good as me if you die now?” Tears shimmered in his eyes. He couldn’t lose her. She was his partner. He couldn’t imagine cases without her.
Shit!
He continued to apply pressure to her wound. Where the hell was the damn ENT’s?
“You can’t leave your fucking door man… I saved you four goddamn seconds walking into this case I’m not going to let that go to waste,”
She blinked. “So, a-are you going to come back to work at the S-s-sherriff’s d-department?” He drew her closer and nodded. He’d never given her a definite answer over drinks.
“I will, Baby.” Relief welled up inside him when he saw the men in white led by Annabelle pushing through the cluster of people by the doors. “But you have to stay with me. You can’t leave me with Pierce all by myself. That’s fucking selfish,” The corner of her mouth quirked up. “And I never pegged you the selfish kind,” Her teeth were stained crimson. He sniffled.
“How is she?” A man asked crouching down to take her from him.
“Alive. She’s alive. But she’s loosing too much blood.” The second man in white approached them with the stretcher.
“We’re going to take it from here.”
The event center was empty. Both the gunmen and the guests had been evacuated.
She didn’t deserve to die.
Not like this.
The End.
Praise for the novels of the indie author Nenny May
‘A pleasurable read. Intriguing and suspenseful escape.’ – Faith, an Amazon reviewer on Missing.
‘Interesting title and description, I really enjoyed how well the characters were written and developed throughout the book. Most books I lose interested because of ADHD, but this one had me interested all the way through. Def recommend this book!’ -Jon, an Amazon Reviewer on Missing.
‘Very good book. Really interesting and makes the reader feel lots of emotions. I would recommend it to everyone to read.’ -Baine, a Goodreads reviewer on The Perfect father.
‘Captivating and exciting, leave thinking what's going on? It has the perfect combination of mystery, thriller and romance.’ Walaa, a Goodreads Reviewer on The Perfect Father.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This author would like you to know that she is a teenage self-published author who independently writes, edits, and publishes her books and is aware of the increasing risk of grammatical errors and plot holes. In light of this, she hosts pre-release grammar contests where participants scout for errors and plot holes in the hopes of winning a free copy of her book on release day! To be a part of this, simply reach out to Nenny May on any one of her many social media platforms or contact her at [email protected], where she will not only involve you in the grammar hunt but provide you with more challenges and access to ARC’s and deals directly to your Email. So, what are you waiting for, reach out to your new favorite indie author!
It should be noted that this book was formerly titled All She Left Unsaid but underwent a minimal rebranding where the metadata; cover, title, and description was tweaked to better suit the genre. It is now titled Miller Avenue Murder, it is jacketed with a cover that symbolizes the first in a series of novels that trails the characters Rachel Olson, Detective Dawson, Paul Campbell, Regan Sinclair, Claire fisher, and other returning characters.
This being the first in a series of books is the first attempt at a book series by Nenny May and despite that, she aims to bring her best in her works, aims to capture her readers from the very first page.
She would like to recognize her beta readers, the team of dedicated readers that opted to review her finished manuscript, that took their time and energy to make Miller Avenue Murder the book it is today.
About the Author
Nenny May is the author of Missing, a psychological thriller novel about a babysitter solving the kidnap and murder of ten children. Missing was first published on Wattpad where it gained an audience of over four thousand readers before it was released to bookstores.
Not too long after Missing’s release, she publishes her second novel The Perfect Father, best known with its former title To New York’s Attorney on Wattpad. The Perfect Father follows a disgruntled lawyer who’s determined to keep her father from serving time for a murder he didn’t commit.
Nenny May was born in Abuja in north-central Nigeria to Nigerian parents, Juliet Obianwu who is a lawyer, and Charles Nwokoro, an engineer. Nenny May pursuing her mother’s footsteps enrolled in Baze University, Abuja, where she is currently studying law.
Nenny May attended the local state schools; Pace Setters Academy, Abuja, junior high at Pace Setters College and senior high at Divine Mercy Secondary school, Abuja and is now enrolled in Baze University Abuja.
In her third year at Baze University, she published her debut novel Missing (2020). Less than a year later she released her second novel The Perfect Father (2021), that went on to become an Amazon bestseller in its first few months.
Books by Nenny
Missing: A Psychological Thriller Novel
The Perfect Father: A gripping legal thriller
AMERICAN
ANGELS
MURDER
(Preview)
Keep reading for a preview of American Angels Murder Book two in the Campbell Murder Series…
PROLOGUE
They’d instructed Detective Rachel Olson to take some time off. It had been an order. She wasn’t to return to Long Prairie Rd till her injuries were a faint memory. She didn’t know what was more painful. Her wound on her lower abdomen or the boredom that threatened to drive her stir-crazy. She’d spent minutes each day staring at the grey-white walls by the window to her left, taken back to Laurel Avenue the morning of the gala, anxiety plunging her into a controlled panic. She’d been shot. It wasn’t a straying bullet. The man that shot her, had intended to kill her. She would have been a casualty. And for what, because she’d lunged after Detective Dawson in an active hostage?
Ruefully missing her bedroom as death halfheartedly dug its nails into her skin, she’d been relieved to wake up in the comfort of her storm-grey bedsheets beneath a white-chocolate comforter the days after her discharge papers had been signed by non-other than Detective Dawson a month into men in scrubs and gloves cutting her open and retrieving a 5.56mm cartridge bullet branded crimson.
She’d been home nearly another month since then, her only guests; Detective Dawson and Tuscany. Chase had made it a habit to poke his head in at least twice every week with a recuperating soup of some sort and books; crime thrillers. In his opinion, it was the closest thing she was going to get to the adrenaline of sitting on a case.
Reading had been a daze in the first weeks of her discharge. She’d stared at the pages until the words blurred and clumped together.
Tuscany on the other hand, had begun to treat Detective Olson’s home as hers. After school, she would knock persistently at Rachel’s door. Tuscany didn’t shadow Rachel the way Chase did during his visit. Tuscany was an indifferent emotional support. She was a listening ear to Rachel and a movie partner till her mother would bang on Rachel’s door with a paper smile, requesting Tuscany return to her room.
Rachel had been cocooned in oversized-clothing, feeding off Detective Dawson’s regularly scheduled rant about work. No new case had been slapped on his lap, but working directly with Lieutenant Connelly Wilson and Sargent Beverly Garwood on a property invasion case had begun to take its toll on him.
She was fine. In her opinion, good enough to return to her desk. Her medication had long kicked in and shouldered the pain. It wasn’t as bad as when she’d initially been discharged from Aventist hospital. Her body had begun to work again. She wasn’t crippled or bedridden. She was ready to step into the shoes of lead Detective of Tillamook’s Sherriff’s Department.
And even if Pierce wouldn’t let her back in her office on Long Prairie premises, he had no control over an investigation embarked upon in her own leisure. She couldn’t get an official case on her hands. Neither could she get the thrill out of the countless paperbacks Detective Dawson had piled by the edge of her bed. She could however leap down a rabbit-hole she’d crawled from. Now more than ever with the pending release of Luke Edwards from prison.
She would for the second time in nearly eight-years probe her mother’s case. There was more to the death of Cecilia-Jackson-Brown. She was more than just a casualty. Luke Edwards and Henry Jenkin deserved a life sentence. The slap-on-the-wrist-punishment they’d gotten was unfair to Cecilia. And Detective Olson was willing to do whatever it took to convince a judge to reopen the case of Cecilia-Jackson-Brown shot and killed in her Oceanside Tillamook home in an alleged robbery gone wrong.
. . .
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Published independently by Nenny May.
For more information on Nenny May, visit:
https://nennymaysbooks.wordpress.com.
Books in the Campbell Murder Series
Miller Avenue Murder.
American Angels Murder.
More by Nenny May
MISSING
BY
NENNY MAY
A NOVEL
Madison Miller is thrown in the middle of a criminal investigation when her neighbor’s only son is kidnapped in a way much too similar to the way her son was kidnapped.
Ten children, ten weeks, one killer.
Abandoned bodies of ten-year-old boys have been turning up all over Charlotte, North Carolina and the inhabitants are petrified. Ten murders in ten weeks, all committed with a gunshot to the head, and still, nobody has a clue who the deranged killer is.
Laid-off news reporter and part-time babysitter Madison Miller, is tired of receiving nothing but rejection on her résumé, and so, she delves into babysitting as a fulltime career. Little does she know just how this will affect her.
Being the only mildly trustworthy babysitter, she's entrusted with ten-year-old Ethan Daniels, only son of the now-barren couple, Lauren and Parker Daniels.
The boy goes missing, throwing Madison Miller into a thrilling panic and into the center of the investigation. Her only clue, a call begging for forgiveness.
She enlists the help of courageous former detective Adam Walker, a long-time neighbor.
Can Walker pull himself out of his rut and help Madison find answers before the deranged killer and his deadly gun claim another victim?
From the author of To New York’s Attorney, Wattpad author Nenny May brings forth yet another thrilling mystery.
PROLOGUE
Alexander Hemmings needed to report the death of Oliver Weston, his tenth and final victim.
The evening air had been crisp, in the distance, the sun had begun to set, dark clouds rolled across the skies, they were a swirl of golden yellows and fading pinks. The night reeked of fast food and cigarettes, the wind whistled, dull against the blare of car horns and the sharp curses of agitated drivers. Providence road was more awake than Alexander Hemming’s social life. He figured; he was never much of a social butterfly in the first place. It was a residential area, what were so many people doing roaming the streets? Was there always traffic in this part of town? And why was he so panicked? He just needed to make a call. He needed to breathe through the subtle ache in his head, to think. Alexander Hemmings much preferred the velvet wake of the night for a walk through the streets of Charlotte; he didn't have much of a choice in this situation. He worked with time and his colleague had thrown him enough curveballs.
He released a breath pushing farther, in the di
stance; he recognized the supermarket he'd earlier driven passed. His tongue ran over his bottom lip, the cut on it tasted of metal. Great, not only had the little retard put up quite a fight, he’d left Alex with a busted lip. With the evening accompanied the glimmering glow of the convenience store sign, and it all had to be in Alex’s mind, but the florescent store lights seemed that much brighter. The closer he got the tighter the knots in his stomach seemed. He slowed his pace, his eyes probing the busy store. Through the doors and windows, he saw a line of customers waiting at the register. This had to be some sort of joke, was there an apocalypse he hadn’t heard about? Why were there so many damn people out grocery shopping in the middle of the goddamn week? Maybe he'd made a mistake coming all the way? No, his decisions were hardly ever wrong. Everything he'd done, every call, it was a weight off his shoulders. He stopped. He couldn't draw any attention to himself, and gasping for breath while looking homeless wasn't exactly going to keep people’s eyes off him.
I need an ambulance, there's a boy... he's hurt. Alex thought again about what he would say, He hoped to whatever guardian angel that had gotten him this far that there wouldn't be too many curious ears and straying eyes. He'd always seemed to falter before an audience. He pushed the door open and slipped between the aisles. He would pick up some snacks; he would throw in a book as well. The knot tightened further, he would make the call, and then join the queue. His skin tingled; his nerves hadn't been this rattled the last time. There wasn't an audience the last time. The fierce glare of the convenience store lights didn't aid the cold sweat that ran down the side of his face. He knew this feeling; he dreaded it, not knowing what to do. No, he knew exactly what to do, he just couldn't do it with people watching, they would come after him if he didn't do it right. Okay, then he had to do it right, every line, every emotion; he would convey it like it was his first and last performance. He bit down on his tongue, heart hammering, he slid further down the aisles.