Savage Rising
Page 35
“Introduce yourself, boys.”
Kenny approached Nolen. “I’m Kenny Fable and this here’s my partner, Step Crawford. And we’re here to close out outstanding accounts.”
Nolen, now drenched in sweat, swallowed the lump in his throat. “I can make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.”
“Damn, son, we got money. A whole fucking truckload of it. And we spend it to run down folks like you. The folks that was in business with Bonnie Pike, that nasty business she run. Little girls took from their mommas and sold to sumbitches for…Well, I don’t like to think what they was sold for.”
“I don’t know what this has to do with me…”
“You arranged the sale of Sarah Campbell,” Step said. “To some sick foreign fucker who could make you a bigger, richer asshole than you already are, if you could just get him that special something that he always wanted, a little American girl all his own.”
Spivey stood. “I’ve made up my mind, D.B. Ima let them kill you. It’s kinda what they do.” Before he exited the room he said, “You two don’t take it easy on him, now, and do me a favor. Tell Dani I’ll be seeing her around.”
Epilogue
Cleve Pike emerged from Ass-Crack mountain covered in red clay and smelling of sulfur. His backpack was full of gallon-sized ziplock baggies filled with neat rolls of cash. The front pocket contained a key to a safety deposit box in a bank in Knoxville. There he would find a list of secrets that would terrify a lot of people with deep pockets. It was his insurance that those who had been beholden to Bonnie and Harley would now be beholden to him.
He was now the top Pike, and he had a lot of rebuilding to do in a short period of time. His first order of business was to take out that fucking deputy once and for all.
This book is dedicated to my aunt, Janet Dickson. I have been fortunate in my life to be surrounded by strong women, and my protagonist, Dani, is modeled after each and every one of them. When Dani is met with hardship and finds the grace and grit to carry on, those are characteristics I have borrowed from my Aunt Janet. My thanks to her and to all the women in my life for being true examples of strength.
Acknowledgments
A book is written in phases. The first phase involves the writer and an idea. There’s not much to see here except for some boring introspection and the occasional eureka moments. The second phase is the writer and the first reader. In my case, this is my wife, Marianna. My thanks to her for putting up with my mistakes and the anxiety those mistakes produce. The third phase involves the writer and his editors. My thanks to Julia Maguire and the editorial staff at Alibi for making me look like a better writer than I am. The final phase involves the author and the reader. My thanks to you for giving this story your time. Here’s hoping we meet again.
BY C. HOYT CALDWELL
Bad Way Out
Savage Reckoning
Savage Rising
PHOTO: MIA RIDLEY
C. HOYT CALDWELL is the author of Bad Way Out. Simultaneously proud of and puzzled by his Southern roots, he isn’t smart enough to be subtle, so his work tends to be tasteless and gritty. He’s not out to offend anyone, but he’s not out to win anyone over, either. His stories are full of sex, violence, humor, and heart.
Facebook.com/officialCHoytCaldwell
Every great mystery needs an Alibi
eOriginal mystery and suspense from Random House
randomhousebooks.com
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
* * *
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.