WEST TEXAS DEAD by Frances Hight
West Texas Dead is the first novel in my Kailey and
Shinto crime/mystery series.
The final piece of the puzzle in this book centers upon Junior Alvarez. He is unlike any character I’ve ever written. I wanted someone rough around the edges, with obvious flaws—but with a core sense of right and wrong—even if he doesn’t know it yet. He was raised in the system and suffered horribly at the hands of some very bad people, yet when we meet him, he is on the cusp of turning things around….Then the unthinkable happens.
Excerpt from West Texas Dead:
-- “Captain.” I stood at attention. No idea why he called Shinto and me into his office and asked us to close the door.
“Officers, our town has a problem, and I think
you two can help solve it.” He looked down at a file on his desk. I sneaked a
peek at Shinto. She raised her eyebrows.
“It’s delicate. Our complaining citizens are
connected, and our mayor is on the warpath. No one is willing to testify, yet
they want this problem to go away. Time to go undercover.” He leaned
back in his chair. Captain Samosa is a by-the-book bear of a man with receding
gray fringe around a balding pate, a slipped halo around his dark Mexican head.
I smiled.
“We have a situation at Magic Hands Massage. It
seems the masseuses give great massages. I’ve been told after a wealthy woman
customer comes back several times, there is one man and one woman that ask
certain questions. About whether the woman is happy in her marriage or
relationship. Innocuous questions, and they still give the woman a great normal
massage. After a few more weeks of getting to know those clients, each time the
massage gets a little more intimate. A slip of the sheet. Then if the woman
doesn’t react too much, they may massage the breast which leads to more
intimate touching. Then they ask for money for these extra pleasures. If the
woman is amenable they offer to go all the way for a sizable donation or tip.”
“Gross.” Shinto scowled. “I’d break a hand if
anyone touched me without my invitation.”
He ignored her. “We need to catch these scumbags
in the act of offering their services. You can carry a small recorder in your
purse and camera on your blouse that you can hang up in the room.”
We both groaned.
I frowned. “How far do we let them go?”
“Far as you can.”
---
To purchase West Texas Dead:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095T32TNW
About Frances Hight:
Frances Hight is an award-winning mystery/thriller writer with a penchant for strong heroines, animals, and culinary adventures. A third-generation Californian, she grew up in Southern CA and has lived and traveled all over the country – including the west Texas town of Midland that is the setting for her current novel. She currently lives in Florida with several furry and fantastic animal companions.
Find out more at https://www.franceshight.com/
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