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  Answering the Call

  As New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Katrina, Detective Sept Savoie recovers from a gunshot wound with the help of her new love Keegan Blanchard. As the city returns to normal, so does the crime rate. Sept’s first case back on the job is a strangely ritualistic killing, which quickly escalates into serial murder. As the bodies start to pile up, the last thing Sept needs is the city’s newest celebrity crime writer, Nicole Voles, poking into the case looking for information for a new bestseller, especially when Nicole appears just as interested in Keegan as she is in murder. Time is running out and innocent lives are on the line. But with all her focus on finding a killer, the secretive and seductive Nicole Voles may just steal what matters to Sept most.

  The Sequel to Calling the Dead.

  Praise for Ali Vali

  Lammy Finalist Calling the Dead

  “So many writers set stories in New Orleans, but Ali Vali’s mystery novels have the authenticity that only a real Big Easy resident could bring. Set six months after Hurricane Katrina has devastated the city, a lesbian detective is still battling demons when a body turns up behind one of the city’s famous eateries. What follows makes for a classic lesbian murder yarn.” —Curve Magazine

  “The plot is engrossing and satisfying. A fun aspect of the book is the images of food it includes. The descriptions of sex are also delicious.”—Seattle Gay News

  “In Calling the Dead, Vali has given us characters that are engaging and a story that keeps us turning page after page.”—Just About Write

  Beauty and the Boss

  “The story gripped me from the first page, both the relationship between the two main characters, as well as the drama of the issues that threaten to bring down the business…Vali’s writing style is lovely—it’s clean, sharp, no wasted words, and it flows beautifully as a result. Highly recommended!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  “This was a story of love and passion but also of surprises and secrets. I loved it!”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  The Romance Vote

  “Won by a Landslide!…[A] sweet and mushy romance with some humor and spicy, sexy scenes!”—Love Bytes

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  “A stunning addition to the vampire legend, Balance of Forces: Toujour Ici is one that stands apart from the rest.”—Bibliophilic Book Blog

  Blue Skies

  “Vali is skilled at building sexual tension, and the sex in this novel flies as high as Berkley’s jets. Look for this fast-paced read.”—Just About Write

  Beneath the Waves

  “The premise…was brilliantly constructed…skillfully written and the imagination that went into it was fantastic…The author managed to insert a real fear and menace into the story and had me totally engrossed…A wonderful passionate love story with a great mystery.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  Second Season

  “Whether Ali Vali is writing about crime figures or lawyers, her characters are well drawn and extremely likeable. Indeed, writing so the reader really cares about the main characters is a trademark of a Vali novel. Second Season is no exception to the rule…This is a rich, enjoyable read that’s not to be missed.”—Just About Write

  “The issues are realistic and center around the universal factors of love, jealousy, betrayal, and doing the right thing and are constantly woven into the fabric of the story. We rated this well written social commentary through the use of fiction our max five hearts.”—Heartland Reviews

  Carly’s Sound

  “Vali paints vivid pictures with her words…Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex.”—Midwest Book Review

  “It’s no surprise that passion is indeed possible a second time around.”—Q Syndicate

  “Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex, but it is more than that. It is also the tale of a woman rising from the ashes of grief and finding new love and a new life. Vali has surrounded Julia and Poppy with a cast of great supporting characters, making this an extremely satisfying read.”—Just About Write

  Praise for the Casey Cain Saga

  The Devil’s Due

  “This is an enthralling, nail biting and ultra fast moving addition to the Devil series…once again Ali Vali has produced a brilliant story arc, solid character development, incomparable bad-ass women in traditionally male roles, leading both the goodies, baddies and cross-breeds.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  “A Night Owl Reviews Top Pick: Cain Casey is the kind of person you aspire to be even though some consider her a criminal. She’s loyal, very protective of those she loves, honorable, big on preserving her family legacy and loves her family greatly. The Devil’s Due is a book I highly recommend and well worth the wait we all suffered through. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.”—Night Owl Reviews

  The Devil Be Damned

  “Ali Vali excels at creating strong, romantic characters along with her fast-paced, sophisticated plots. Her setting, New Orleans, provides just the right blend of immigrants from Mexico, South America, and Cuba, along with a city steeped in traditions.”—Just About Write

  Deal with the Devil

  “Ali Vali has given her fans another thick, rich thriller…Deal With the Devil has wonderful love stories, great sex, and an ample supply of humor. It is an exciting, page-turning read that leaves her readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.”—Just About Write

  The Devil Unleashed

  “Fast-paced action scenes, intriguing character revelations, and a refreshing approach to the romance thriller genre all make for an enjoyable reading experience in the Big Easy…The Devil Unleashed is an engrossing reading experience.”—Midwest Book Review

  The Devil Inside

  “Not only is The Devil Inside a ripping mystery, it’s also an intimate character study.”—L-Word Literature

  “The Devil Inside is the first of what promises to be a very exciting series…While telling an exciting story that grips the reader, Vali has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The Devil Inside is that rarity: a fascinating crime novel which includes a tender love story and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger ending.”—MegaScene

  “The Devil Inside by Ali Vali is an unusual, unpredictable, and thought-provoking love story that will have the reader questioning the definition of right and wrong long after she finishes the book…first time novelist Vali does not leave the reader hanging for too long, but spins a complex plot of love, conspiracy, and loss.”—Just About Write

  “[T]his isn’t your typical ‘Godfather-esque’ novel, oh no. The head of this crime family is not only a lesbian, but a mother to boot. Vali’s fluid writing style quickly puts the reader at ease, which makes the story and its characters equally easy to get to know and care about. When you find yourself talking out loud to the characters in a book, you know the work is polished and professional, as well as entertaining. Ever just wanted to grab a crime boss by the lapels, get in their face, and tell them to open their eyes and see what’s right in front of their eyes? If not, you will once you start turning the pages of The Devil Inside.”—Family and Friends Magazine

  Answering the Call

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Answering the Call

  © 2018 By Ali Vali. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13:978-1-63555-049-8

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

&nb
sp; P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: December 2018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Shelley Thrasher

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design by Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  Carly’s Sound

  Second Season

  Blue Skies

  Love Match

  The Dragon Tree Legacy

  The Romance Vote

  Girls with Guns

  Beneath the Waves

  Beauty and the Boss

  Call Series

  Calling the Dead

  Answering the Call

  Forces Series

  Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici

  Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours

  Force of Fire: Toujours a Vous

  The Cain Casey Saga

  The Devil Inside

  The Devil Unleashed

  Deal with the Devil

  The Devil Be Damned

  The Devil’s Orchard

  The Devil’s Due

  Heart of the Devil

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to Radclyffe for your overall awesomeness and for giving me the continued opportunity to be a part of such a great organization and family. Thank you to Sandy Lowe for all you do for us and for being awesome as well.

  Thanks to my editor, Shelley Thrasher—I think we’re getting the hang of this writing business. You always teach me something each go-round, and for that I’m grateful. A big thank you to my beta readers Cris Perez-Soria, Kim Rieff, VK “Super Cop” Powell, and Carsen “Law Woman” Taite. You guys were great, and I thank you for all that expertise along the way. Thank you Sheri Halal for another great cover. It’s like you can read my mind every time.

  Thank you to all the readers, especially the ones who kept writing and asking for a sequel to Calling the Dead. It took a few years for the right story to come to me, but your encouragement helped the writing process. Every word is written with you in mind.

  Thank you to C for all the fun times, and for all the ones yet to come. Verdad!

  For C

  For my parents

  Chapter One

  “Please,” New Jersey Detective Thomas Branson said as he tried his restraints again. He struggled to lift his head an inch—the only freedom he had.

  After a night of fun with his buddies to celebrate another successful arrest, he’d woken up to this nightmare. Even scarier, he recognized the walls of his bedroom. This fucker was going to kill him a foot from his own bed, and he was glad to die alone. The family his mother, Myrna, had bugged him about, but he’d never gotten around to acquiring, would’ve only complicated this scenario.

  “Please what?” The person on the bed spoke, their voice muffled by a leather mask.

  Tommy couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman from the way they were dressed. Except for the short questions, the only sound was the scraping of a knife against the sharpening stone. He’d screamed at first, but the slice into his chest warned him not to repeat that mistake. The deep cut stung, and trickles of blood ran down his sides. The scraping stopped, and he took a deep breath in preparation.

  “I asked you a question. Please what?”

  “Let me go.” That wasn’t going to happen. From the moment he’d opened his eyes, the situation was ominous, and he knew exactly what came next. He’d testified in court step by step how this would go and what the police would find.

  “That’s exactly what I plan to do,” the person said, still out of his sight. “This should be a lesson to you.”

  “A lesson in what?”

  “Hubris, Detective Thomas Neely Branson, hubris.” The large, shiny knife slapped down on his wound, and Tommy screamed, opening his mouth wide enough for the gag to go in. Once he was silenced, his executioner strapped his head down. Now he was no better than a bug pinned to a board.

  He would be the next victim of the butterfly killer. The large owl butterfly tacked to the ceiling above his head was the killer’s only calling card and the only clue. The big butterfly had been left at the twelve murder scenes they’d investigated, along with the FBI, until Eugene Paul Masters had been apprehended on a fluke. And it had been a fluke, since Eugene hadn’t left one bit of evidence at any of those crime scenes that could in any way be traced back to him.

  The arrest had come from luck, but he and his team had been thorough and made it stick. Eugene was now waiting his turn on the table where his life would end for the atrocities he’d committed. With all the evidence against him, it’d taken the jury only two hours to come back, and an hour of that time had been their dinner break. Eugene was the guy, but who the hell was this fucker?

  “Your ego was hard to swallow after you captured Mr. Masters,” the person said, stripping away the rest of Tommy’s clothes with the sharp blade. He knew they’d be neatly folded, even though they were ripped, and stacked in a very precise way. His shoes would top the stack, and his eyes would be found inside. Eugene never gave up why he put them in the shoes, no matter how hard the headshrinkers had pushed him on that little tidbit.

  “You could’ve said you were doing your job, but even then Eugene dropped in your lap. That’s the truth, because it certainly wasn’t your stellar detective skills.” Tommy saw a gloved hand point to the butterfly on the ceiling. “Did you notice the edge of the wings? The butterfly uses it to scare off predators because it looks like a snake’s head. That, along with the owl eyes, makes this species almost untouchable in the wild. Its greatest enemy is man. Eugene wanted you to understand that freedom shouldn’t be taken away from something so beautiful only to beat your chest at the capture. Winning the game by chance shouldn’t go without punishment.”

  The knife came into view next, so Tommy sent a silent message to his mother. It wasn’t his job to die before her, she’d said over and over after he’d gotten his shield. I’m sorry, Ma, he thought as the carving began. I failed you, but don’t give up on life. I love you.

  “But even in nature some mindless animal gets lucky and kills something that seems so deadly it should be by all accounts untouchable.” The killer hesitated a moment before going back to work. “Luck ran out today, so look at the butterfly, Detective, and know you should’ve left well enough alone.”

  He bit down on the gag and bowed his body as much as he could when the knife plunged deeper and started the filleting process. It was the only way he’d been able to describe it. The sadistic bastard followed the same shape as the bug on his ceiling. The skin flap shaped like the butterfly would be his death shroud when it covered his face, his empty eye sockets matching the owl spots on the insect’s wings.

  “This should make Eugene’s fate interesting, but don’t worry. He’s not going anywhere.”

  Tommy moaned when the blade rested under his balls.

  “Your shoes need something to show what a bad boy you’ve been. This little trick should guarantee this as a copycat crime, but your buddies will be busy trying to figure out what it means to find you like this.”

  The cut was clean, and his scream was swallowed by the rubber ball in his mouth, but the killer only chuckled. “Come on. It’s not like you were using them for anything useful. Mama wanted grandkids to spoil, but you could only get it up for those cheap whores who charge twenty for a blow job. Myrna’s little boy was a figment of her imagination, so she’ll cherish the memories, but you’ll be forgotten in no time. No more twenties to buy some friends in your future.”

  Tommy struggled in one last attempt to free himself, but feeling the skin on his chest come off made him lose consciousness. The sweet
relief of blackness saved him from knowing when the blade went through his heart. Tommy Branson was just a statistic now.

  The hunter finished the staging necessary from the notes committed to memory. Only Tommy’s testicles in his shoes would differ in this crime scene his fellow detectives would comb over. Eugene’s trophies weren’t their style, but the snips removed Tommy’s small toe, which appeared ghoulish when dropped in a small bottle of alcohol. It went into a small bag on the bed, since it was a calling card for the next place. New Orleans was going to be fun.

  “Time to move on and make Father proud.”

  * * *

  The small boat rocked on the smooth lake surface, but Keegan Blanchard could give a damn as her lover Sept Savoie slammed her fingers in, bringing her closer to orgasm. Six months together hadn’t blunted the ferocious need to have Sept touch her and love her.

  “Don’t stop, baby,” she said, digging her own fingers into Sept’s shoulders to keep her in place on top of her. “So good…don’t stop.”