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    Genesis
    Genesis
    Genesis
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    Genesis

    By R. Huffman

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Private Investigator Frank Soems is called to investigate when his twin godsons are kidnapped from the home of their adoptive parents. Who would kidnap two teenage boys from their beds? What does their disappearance have to do with the death of their estranged uncle? How does a long-dead lawyer tie in? As Frank follows the twisty trail, his investigation will uncover the boys' hidden past and lead him to a shocking discovery.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherR. Huffman
    Release dateMar 1, 2014
    ISBN9781311769732
    Genesis
    Author

    R. Huffman

    R. Huffman spent her formative years in Santa Ynez, a small valley north of Santa Barbara, California. She majored in History at a small Christian college and put her degree to minimal use in her following six years as a secretary in the Federal Government. Now living in Washington State with an elderly poodle and a remarkably furry cat, she has returned to her first true love: writing fantasy.Ms. Huffman first discovered her gift for wordsmithing at a Fakespeare competition at her local library. Creating lines a blind panel found indistinguishable from Shakespeare gave her her first taste of authorial triumph--and she has never recovered.

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      Book preview

      Genesis - R. Huffman

      Genesis

      Shifter Nation Book 1

      Copyright 2014 R. Huffman

      Published by R. Huffman at Smashwords

      Cover image by Douglas Pecht @ www.dougpecht.com

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      About the Author

      Coming Soon

      Prologue

      The girl known as L lay perfectly still as the door to the infirmary opened. If they thought she was asleep, they might leave her alone. She heard the footsteps of several people and the squeak of wheels as something was brought in. A draft on her bare, elevated left leg alerted her to movement nearby, but no one touched her. The footsteps receded and the door closed. For a moment she thought she was alone again, but caution kept her motionless. The sounds of movement rewarded her patience as the treads of two distinct individuals moved around the room. She heard the occasional clank of equipment being moved, the beeping of machines, the click and scritch of a pen.

      Sir, one of them spoke, his voice hesitant. I don’t mean to question you, but I have been wondering. Wasn’t it an unnecessary risk to bring them here?

      It was a risk, a man whose voice she recognized and feared replied, But it was vital that they be returned.

      Why? asked the first man. I thought this litter wasn’t quite right and needed additional injections to make the experiment effective. If we’d just left them alone, no one would ever have known.

      You haven’t read the latest findings, the second chided. Even without the injections it is possible the subjects would have transformed spontaneously in the correct conditions.

      The first man sucked in his breath. They can?

      Yes, and that was a risk we could not take. Besides, the risk in taking them is minimal. No one will think to look for them here. Why should they? As far as anyone knows, the brats ran away.

      The first man chuckled shakily as they left the room. L remained quiet and still, listening carefully for signs anyone else was in the room. As silence descended, she could just barely make out the sound of breathing. It was soft and even, and she could tell whoever made it was asleep. As she continued to listen, she discerned a second breather, a bit farther away and also taking the even, smooth breaths of deep sleep. After waiting a few more minutes just to be sure, she opened her eyes.

      Two beds had been added to the infirmary, making the usually spacious room somewhat crowded. Two boys about her age lay on them, deeply unconscious. They wore clothes like nothing she had ever seen before, the bright colors and patterns starkly different from the grey she and the others always wore and the muted browns and greens worn by her trainers. Their hair was long, coming past their ears and lying tousled against the pillow, framing their faces pleasingly. It confused her. Only the scientists wore their hair that long, everyone else always had their heads buzzed, as hers was. But no scientist would allow themselves to be strapped down, as these were. And the scientists had said they were subjects, which is what they always called L and her littermates. It was all very strange.

      Chapter One

      Frank, there’s a situation at the Grey’s.

      Private Investigator Frank Soems’ annoyance at being awakened at the crack of dawn the morning after a midnight stakeout was quickly replaced by worry as the meaning of the statement fought its way through his sleep-fogged mind.

      Peter Grey had been his best friend in high school, and the friendship had endured despite the very different paths their lives had taken. For Frank it been a ten year stint in the army; eight of them in the Rangers. When he’d mustered out nine years ago he’d decided a nine-to-five job wasn’t for him and had opened up his own private investigation firm. It was hardly the glamorous life the Maltese Falcon would lead you to believe, but there were occasional (rare) moments of excitement amidst the seas of paperwork. He had no family left to speak of; his parents had been killed in a car accident while he was still in the army and he had been an only child. His parents had also both been only children and none of their parents were living. It was Peter that had drawn him back to his old hometown of Fresno, California.

      While Frank had chased a life of adventure in the army, Peter had married his high school sweetheart Sarah and had worked selling real estate while taking night classes at Fresno State University. He’d done well for himself financially, successfully weathering the economic downturn and starting a family by adopting twin sons. Frank was godfather to Joseph and Benjamin and had enjoyed sending them exotic presents during his time in the army. They were all the family Frank needed. Peter’s similar lack of family and Sarah’s estrangement from hers just made the bond stronger, and mutual. If anything had happened to them…

      What? Frank croaked, his throat dry from sleep. He paused to swallow, then tried again. What’s going on? He didn’t need to ask who was calling. While he had established a friendly relationship with the local police force, only Detective Isaac Locke, a former marine who liked to debate the greatness of the Marines compared to the lowly Army with Frank, would know to call him immediately if something happened to the Grey’s.

      The boys are gone.

      What! Frank exclaimed, sitting up too quickly. He cursed when the phone’s charge cord caught on his bedside table, jerking the phone almost out of his hand. He fumbled the phone back to his ear and said, What the hell do you mean, the boys are gone?

      It looks like they ran away—

      Like hell! Frank exclaimed. I know those boys and they are not runners, he snarled.

      I had the same impression, Isaac commented mildly, "Which is why we took a closer look. Tracks in the mud outside Jo’s window are the wrong size for anyone in the family. Also, Peter and Sarah are acting a little off—I’m having a blood

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