Detective Garcia becomes determined to find the killer at any cost. Together with Rachael Pearce, a journalist he falls in love with, he searches for the killer through the gang underground and the world of prostitution and drugs. And as suspect after suspect is released with no solid evidence to connect them to the crimes, the search for the killer becomes more urgent as the gang-infested areas of the city reach a boiling point to the brink of rioting. In a community of gang members – who are killers themselves – how does Detective Garcia find the most monstrous killer he has ever encountered?
Madness wears many faces...
Do Unto Others
Jim Cornell used to believe in God.
But when things went bad – his daughter getting cancer, his layoff from his well-paying job, the strain of his marriage – he began to have no use for God anymore.
When Jim’s forced into a situation that will require his participation in another man’s murder, his faith will be tested. Because while Jim used to believe in God, he’d never given that much thought to the Devil.
Now he’s going to have to. Because, like it or not, Jim is involved with people who have a deep religious faith, too.
Jim is about to discover that where there is light, there must be darkness. There’s more than one kind of religious faith and his is about to be put to the ultimate test.
The Corporation
Michelle Dowling found her dream job. The offer on her desk from Corporate Financial Consultants included a high five figure salary, generous benefits and cushy perks. Finally, after escaping the psychological abuse of an emotionally cold mother and a series of dead-end jobs, she could start planning for a future with her fiance, Donald.
However, Michelle forgot the cardinal rule for any job offer; always read the fine print. She really should have gotten more details about her overtime hours, company policies, and exactly what they meant when they said “Welcome to the Corporate Financial Family”.
Michelle isn’t afraid of hard work. She’s a dedicated employee, the kind any manager would want for his firm. But this Corporation requires much more than just dedication...
Acknowledgements
I’d like to acknowledge the following people for their assistance and the support they provided during the writing of this novel:
Jesus and Glenda Gonzalez, for obvious reasons.
The Becker family, for reasons they can’t imagine.
Gil Schloss, for continuing to show faith in such a tough marketplace.
Brian and Cassie Keene, Garrett Peck, Zack Venable, David Nordhaus, Pam Chillimi-Yeager, Geoff Cooper, Gord Rollo, Brian A. Hopkins, Bob Strauss, Judi Rohrig and Hellnotes, Del & Sue Howison, Jeff Gelb, John Pelan, Richard Chizmar, Paul Melniczek, Jane Letty, Gary Zimmerman, Bonesaw, Shane Ryan Staley, Matt Schwartz, and Gene O’Neill for various reasons, among them their friendship, support, and online comaraderie.
Cathy Gonzalez, for somehow putting up with me, and coming up with the perfect title for this novel when I couldn’t.
And to Hannah Gonzalez, who I will always be there for.
A Note on the 2012 Midnight Library edition
The Beloved was originally published in 2005 as a trade paperback from Midnight Library. This revised and preferred edition restores text that was excised from the 2006 Dorchester/Leisure mass market paperback. The 2010 signed limited edition from Altar 13 restored this text (and included additional bonus material) and corrections were made to fix annoying errors that were never fixed for the mass market paperback. This edition should constitute the definitive and final text.
To
Bob Strauss
and Garrett Peck
who never stopped believing
and for
Zack Venable
who still believes
No part of this book may be used or reproduced, stored into or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other means now known or yet to be invented) without the prior written permission of the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed are either fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events and individuals is coincidental. This book is sold as is and neither the publisher, nor the author, will be responsible for any direct or consequential damages that may arise from the misuse of the information within.
The Beloved © 2005 by J. F. Gonzalez
Cover Illustration and Design © 2005 by Ron Leming
All rights reserved
Midnight Library
Lititz, PA
The Beloved Page 41