I - INVESTIGATION

I is for INVESTIGATION

At the discovery of a crime, there are procedures followed by the first officer on the scene to secure the area. In Murder & Obsession, Helen Gabble, is that officer.

You can read more on the Standard Operating Procedure of Homicide Investigations written by John M.Howell.

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

Standing close to the fire, Detective Helen Gabble could not get warm, even with the proper winter gear she’d had brought in with the forensics team. A partial tent in the front of Steven’s cabin served as murder central while the crime scene investigators finished their job. The shelter had no walls, and despite a canvas roof, the snow swirled in the breeze. The burn barrel ate the wood and provided little to no warmth in the openness. After forensics gave her the all clear, the detective would move her team inside, but right now their operations headquarters resided in the elements. Some of her men waited in warm vehicles, and for a few minutes, she had too, but huddling against the cold didn’t feel right, so she directed the investigation outside. She kept things moving.

Ginger Diehl finally approached her at three in the morning. “We’re done; we’ve collected all the evidence from the bedroom and the grave out back. We’ve swept the place for fingerprints and taken photographs. You have full access now. The bedroom is off-limits, but you can use the downstairs. I just need your signature. Is there something else you need?”

“The body?”

“Sorry. No luck there. I had men on the other side of the bank. We found more bear tracks, but the water is moving too fast. She could be miles downstream. They’ll search when daylight hits.”

*****

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H - HYPOTHERMIA

H IS FOR HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is a dangerously low body temperature. A temperature of less than 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 35 degrees Celsius means hypothermia. Shivering is an attempt by the body to warm itself. Confusion and eventually a loss of awareness are symptoms to follow. Approximately 600 deaths occur each year in the United States because of hypothermia. Many people remove their clothes as the delirium gets worse.

I suffered from hypothermia during an incident in Alaska when it was 30 below and my car was stuck on a mountainside. Even though I was dressed in winter gear, I'd been in the cold for over two hours. Getting warm after that occurrence took well over eight hours. It's not something I ever want to repeat. Today, my fingers are still ultra sensitive to cold.

Photo Copyright

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

Shivering uncontrollably, Steven wondered if hypothermia would be his Waterloo. He wrapped a woolen blanket around his shoulders and did his best to remain alert. He prayed the heat from the fire would be his salvation, but his body struggled to find the warmth promised.

Steven gazed at flames that seemed to him determined to withhold their lifesaving heat. His lips were blue, his thoughts muddled, and tears like ice droplets tumbled from his eyes. His body vibrated violently from the unending chill, loss, and his situation.

His heart pounded like a percussion drill through rock, and his lungs struggled for air. His mind sought understanding and forgiveness. He'd neglected his vow of protection, a promise he never thought he’d fail to deliver.

Intense grief filled his soul. Bordering on a complete collapse, Steven surrendered his hold on reality. He wanted, needed to join her.

*****

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Read an excerpt of my story Ever-Ton HERE!

Al Gore won the Presidency in 2000. 
The earth is dying and people are
trying to escape, well, in my story they are! 

G - GRIZZLY

G IS FOR GRIZZLY

The grizzly's terrain is the Brooks Range, but in the foothills, you'll find the black bear. Seldom do these two species cross borderlines. When they do nothing good comes from their meeting.

         I hiked the Brooks Range during the spring and saw many a footprint. I was even foolish enough to follow them. And then in one night (from the safety of a truck) I saw nine grizzly's, my attitude changed dramatically. Respect for these massive creatures was born.

Photo copyright

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

             With Bushnell Elite Binoculars, Steven searched the valley below for any sign of the trackers. The very weather features he’d just been thankful for now obscured his vision, but he concentrated on color and movement. He spotted a grizzly. The bear, a good seven hundred pounds and at least seven feet tall, had Steven worried, especially when the animal reared on its hind legs and sniffed the air.                      
             Somehow, the grizzly had locked on Steven’s scent instead of the dead caribou’s or the beast would have been heading south not north, as Steven was. 

              Steven had no other option but to move, and move quickly. He hit the trail, but slowed by the heavy snow, his muscles screamed. 
             
            . . . after a rest break he repacked supplies for the rest of the journey but stopped when a familiar sound caught his attention. The deep growls of a bear reached him from the path he meant to take. He turned slowly. Instead of the grizzly, a healthy young black bear from the other side of the river lumbered toward him.

*****

View More Grizzly Photos Here

View Grizzly Fight Videos Here

*****

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Read an excerpt of my story Ever-Ton HERE!

Al Gore won the Presidency in 2000. 
The earth is dying and people are
trying to escape, well, in my story they are! 

F - FAIRBANKS

F IS FOR FAIRBANKS

The largest city in interior Alaska, Fairbanks is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. One of the first places I lived after arriving in Alaska. It's a lovely town that tries hard to hold on to the early days when a steamboat would bring prospectors and supplies up the Tanana River.

Named after the 26^th Vice President, Charles W. Fairbanks, who served under Theodore Roosevelt. It's known for its subarctic cold and its short but warm summers. I remember summer days that were as hot as 90 degrees and winter days as cold as 50 below.

Photo Copyright

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

                 Photo Copyright

Steven took the document, scanned it. “A search warrant. Regarding what? The Captain has my schedule. I’m due in the office Monday. Why drive all the way out here? Damn it, Helen. What the hell is going on?” He stood.

“Two women are dead. We have witnesses putting you with them just hours before they died.” She placed two pictures on the counter. “Do you recognize them?”

He scanned the photos. “Sure, I had a drink with her in Anchorage. April, I think she called herself.” He pointed to the other picture. “I bought her dinner after her car broke down, at the Bull Moose Diner in Fairbanks. What happened to them?”

“Strangled, dumped on the side of the road. So, yes, we’re here searching for evidence. Preliminary forensics ties you to them. Did you sleep with them?”

“Strangled, what are you accusing me of? Sleep with―you actually believe―” His anger escalated with each word. “I’m your suspect?”

*****

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E – ESCAPE

E IS FOR ESCAPE

Wearing leg irons would make any escape near impossible, unless you're an expert at picking locks like Houdini.

In Murder & Obsession, leg irons are used to keep a kidnap victim tethered. 

There'd be no escape from the horrors to come.

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Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:                                                                  

                                                                               Photo Copyright

The moon sat high against the purple sky, and the cold marched forth across the land with murderous intent - overcome, smother, and marshal the surrender of all occupants. Winter had arrived.
            . . . Quinn held a heavy chain with an ankle lock, still fastened securely to the bed.  “And yet they tried to accommodate her needs.”

“Gayln?” Steven swallowed the drink and lay back gingerly but reached for the ankle lock. The weight of the instrument felt heavy in his hand but heavier on a heart already shattered. He pictured the iron around Sarah’s delicate ankle. “How long ago?” Hope turned to anger. His friend had done this to his fiancee. Why? What had motivated such betrayal?

“While you slept I took the dogs to the village, talked to a few folks. They saw Gayln with a couple but never saw your girl. The couple flew out Friday night. Gayln drove out two days ago. He packed carefully. He’s running or he’s off to spend his loot. I'm sorry son.”

*****

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D - DEADHORSE

D IS FOR DEADHORSE

Deadhorse consists mainly of facilities to house the workers from the companies that operate the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. 495 miles from Fairbanks trucks carry the supplies needed during the winter months using the Haul Road. The facility was built on man-made gravel pads. 

The story behind the name is a long one, but basically, a gravel company, called Dead Horse Haulers, the company that hauled most of the gravel for those gravel pads, was so familiar to residents and non-residents alike, they used the name until it became the known name. Despite the best efforts of Prudhoe Bay - Deadhorse was the name that appeared in the official zip code directory. You can read the full story HERE!

For Detective Quaid, in Murder & Obsession it's supposed to hold his alibi . . .

Yolanda Renée Copyright

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

Helen inspected the main room, noting the items out of place, the fingerprint dust still clinging to most of the surfaces. Forensics had ruined Steven’s romantic honeymoon getaway. She wondered if Sarah had appreciated the trouble Steven had gone to in order to make his cabin hideaway comfortable, although Helen had always found the cabin cozy.

“Detective, it’s fresh.” Kelly handed her a cup of coffee.

“Thanks. Crazy night. Have you checked on Quaid’s alibi?”

“I’m leaving for Deadhorse now. I can’t reach anyone by phone or radio. I think it’s best if I just drive. What do you think?”

“Take George; he’s bored. I want official statements, so stay until you’ve talked to everyone. Keep in touch. Take the satellite phone. I have more equipment on the way.”

“Yes, sir.” Kelly saluted and hurried out the door; Helen couldn’t help but wonder if he was glad to be free of her sour attitude. The cold had turned her temperament to ice, and she saw her own anxiety reflected on the faces of her team.

*****

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C - COLDFOOT

C IS FOR COLDFOOT

Known as the world furthest north truck stop, Coldfoot, Alaska, sits on the Dalton Highway, or Haul Road, as most viewers of the television show Ice Road Truckers know it. 254 miles from Fairbanks and 240 miles from Deadhorse or Prudhoe Bay, Coldfoot is the last stop for fuel, food, or accommodations.

"The town was originally a mining camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Middle Fork Koyukuk River would get "cold feet" and turn around." Wikipedia.

Coldfoot has the supplies needed to continue the journey north for trucks and other vehicles but it also has an airport. All which figure highly in my novel Murder & Obsession.

Photo Copyright

Murder & Obsession
Excerpt:

Steven finally reached Coldfoot, and spoke with Sarah before moving too deeply into the mountains.

 “Saturday is just too far away.” She sounded wistful.

His pride swelled with her words, but her pensiveness bothered him. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s just… I don’t want to go on this trip. I’m sorry. I’m being foolish. I wish we’d waited, or stopped in Seattle before we flew home.”

“Don’t go; let your attorney handle the business issues. Join me. We can start the honeymoon now.”

She laughed. “Oh, my gosh, we do sound like lovesick teenagers. No, I’ll go to Seattle and take care of business. You have a right to some time alone to make your decision. Just promise me that we won’t be apart again for a long, long time.

I’ve taken her away from home again. “I’m sorry, Sarah, we should’ve―”

“No, Steven. We both know our responsibilities; besides, I’m the one who insisted on a wilderness honeymoon. I’m just being silly.”

They talked for an hour because he had a hard time saying goodbye. After the phone call, a cold wind took his attention skyward, where the warnings of a storm floated above the horizon, and its foretelling gave him a chill he could not shake.

*****

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B - BIG LAKE

B IS FOR BIG LAKE

The community of Big Lake is located on the shore of its namesake lake about 60 miles from Anchorage. Big Lake is famous for its recreational opportunities, such as swimming, fishing, and camping to name a few. 

Views of Mount Susitna, Denali, and the Talkeetna Mountains makes this resort town a favorite spot summer or winter.

I spent time in Big Lake when I lived in Alaska, and couldn't resist using it in my novel Murder & Obsession. It's a prime location for a surreptitious meeting.

Photo Copyright

Murder & Obsession
Excerpt:

A mixture of cherry, cerise, and mauve colors filled the sky, and Big Lake mirrored the hues, adding depth and shadow through small ripples across its otherwise glassy surface. The sunset exemplified one of the most striking John had ever seen, and he took a few moments to enjoy the beauty before his meeting.

Inside the entry, he discovered a note. “Make yourself comfortable. Be right back, went to town for groceries.” John checked the time. This doesn’t feel right.

John scrutinized the big room while he pretended to fuss with the bags. Gun at the ready, he continued his surveillance, looking to the loft for intruders. He listened but only heard the crackle of the fire in the huge fireplace across the room, the tick tock of a cuckoo clock above his head, and his own heartbeat. He slowly took off his jacket, just to give Eddie time to get in position and make contact with Brent. John placed his jacket on a hook and entered the living room, his gun hidden at his side. He took in his surrounding, but in the center of the room, his peripheral vision picked up a person sitting by the fire, in a chair not viewable from the door. He immediately honed in on the stranger.
                                                 *****

Yes, I snapped these pictures of Big Lake. Just to prove to all those that thought Alaska was an iceberg, that in the summer the temperatures are warm and the entertainment, the same as most states. The man in the white suit was the Finance Director of the Native organization where I worked as an accountant.

Manohar Nevaskar, a genius financial executive, hired from India. I learned so much from this man!

*****

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A - ANAKTUVUK PASS

A IS FOR ANAKTUVUK PASS

"Anaktuvuk Pass (Uhn-uk-too-vuk) was named after the Anaktuvik River. Anaktuvuk is the English way of spelling annaqtugvik place of caribou droppings in Inupiaq, the language of the Inupiat." Wikipedia

While Alaska attracts people seeking adventure, it also attracts those who need a place to hide. The wilderness is a great place to lose oneself, and to lose those in pursuit. Just as one criminal does in my latest release Murder & Obsession! Detective Quaid, with the help of his uncle, tracks the culprit to Anaktuvuk Pass. 

A beautiful place, Alaska, but a dangerous place too!

Photo Copyright

Murder & Obsession

Excerpt:

Anaktuvuk Pass, just north of the Brooks Ranges, was a remote village of Nunamiut Eskimos. Flying in during October, early November meant below zero temperatures, a frozen tundra, and few places to hide. Steven knew if Gayln Southwick was there, ferreting him out would not be hard.

. . . Steven crossed the room in two strides. His hand clamped around Gayln’s neck. "Remember me?"

Grasping at Steven’s hand, Gayln struggled for air and words. Steven threw him against the door. Gayln’s head bounced with a sickening thud. “Going somewhere, Gayln?”

Gayln tried, but couldn’t move his head. “No,” he croaked.

“No, you aren’t, unless it’s a quick trip to meet your maker. You want that, Gayln? Are you ready?”

Gayln nodded, then immediately shook his head.

“Give me a reason. Please, just one little reason. You've no idea the rage I’m holding. What-Have-You-Done?”

Gayln moaned. His face turned an odd shade of blue, his eyes bulged.

“Are you going to talk or do I have to show you the entrance to Hell first?”

Gayln's face was almost purple. “I’ll talk,” he gasped.

*****

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Murder, Madness & Love
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FYI!
The winner of the A to Z Challenge Giveaway 
held on the 21st is
Bish Denham!
Congratulations!