Rise of the Blood Moon

Rise of the Blood Moon

A Jaidden Moon Novel

By J.D. Porter

Copyright 2014 J.D. Porter

Kindle Edition

Copyright 2014 J.D. Porter

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 use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters appearing in this work are fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Mother, who has always encouraged my imagination and creativity from the moment I could walk and talk. And, to my best friend and partner-in-crime, Elizabeth (aka Lissy), who read every word almost as fast as I could write it, and whose enthusiasm is irreplaceable.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Epilogue

About the Author

Contact Information

Chapter 1

I had only a moment to react once I heard the squealing tires. Headlights came quickly around the corner. I dove into the ditch as several shots whizzed by and the car was gone. I didn’t even have time to go for my gun. I climbed out brushing the dirt and dried leaves from my jogging pants and hair.

‘Cisco? Cisco?’ I heard whimpering coming from the bushes a few feet away. I’d know that sound anywhere. I hurried towards the noises calling softly, ‘Cisco? Sweetie, come out.’ After a few moments of coaxing, out he came with his tail between his legs dragging his leash behind him. I cuddled him softly making ‘shh shh’ noises just as my cell phone rang.

‘Hello?’ I was still trying to catch my breath.

‘Hey Jaidden, it’s Zack. I have a new client that needs to speak with you. She says she thinks her husband is cheating with his marketing director. Can you come back to the office tonight?’

I took a few deep, cleansing breaths. ‘You’re not going to believe what just happened. I think after being shot at for the second time in as many days I should never return to the office again.’

‘Are you all right? Do you need me to come pick you up? Where are you?’

‘I’m okay. He missed. I was out for my nightly jog with Cisco.’

‘Did you get a look at who was shooting at you?’

‘Not even a glance. I heard squealing tires coming at me and I dove into the ditch.’

‘Is Cisco okay?’

‘He’s a little shaken but he seems alright. Let me take him home and I’ll be in.’

I jogged the rest of the way home carrying poor, shaking Cisco in my arms. I took a quick shower getting more leaves and debris from my hair. I donned my usual jeans, t-shirt, and hiking boots, brushed my hair into a ponytail, and headed for the office. Thinking about Zack waiting for me made me smile. Thinking of his nicely rounded butt in tight jeans made me smile even bigger. By the time I reached the office I had a full-blown gardener-type fantasy playing out in my mind.

Our office was located on 7th Avenue. Ybor City wasn’t really big enough to be called a city, approximately eight blocks wide and nine blocks long if you counted the parking garage and nearby tiny houses. The area was going to be torn down to make way for new businesses when a group of people got together and bought it. They turned the old buildings into bars, tattoo shops, restaurants, and even built a big movie theater on 8th. The streets were still red brick, the yards and small cemetery surrounded by tall wrought iron gates, and there were even rumors of underground tunnels. Recently, a trolley that ran on a track to resemble the original trolley was installed on 8th Avenue. It ran through Ybor City and down to the Port of Tampa.

We rented a narrow brick building with a small yard attached. There was a main room furnished with a brown leather couch, matching chairs, coffee table, and book shelves. We used this room to interview prospective clients to help make them feel at ease. We also had a small kitchen and a decent sized office.

Zack and I had been partners for the last three years. After graduating with my Criminal Justice degree I worked for two years as an investigative intern for a friend of my Father’s from his Army days. Max was like an Uncle to me, so I never quite felt like I was working. He taught me every tip and trick of the trade he knew. When it came time to apply for my license, he sponsored me. He’d even given me a small loan to start my own business. Six months after opening my office, Max was in a boating accident off of the Florida Keys. It was like losing my Father all over again. A short while later I met Zack. He filled the empty space that Max’s death left in my life, in more ways than I could have ever hoped for. I’d never breached the friend barrier with Zack, afraid that I might lose him too. But, that didn’t seem to stop me from imagining him as something more, and lately the barrier seemed to blur.

I parked my jeep in front of the office and walked in quietly to see Zack seated on the couch with an attractive young blonde. She had a wad of tissues in her hands that she was tearing to shreds. Zack had his arm across her shoulder patting her reassuringly. She didn’t look like the kind of girl who found it difficult to illicit comfort from anyone of the male persuasion. What, me jealous? Never. I loudly cleared my throat as I walked further into the room causing her to jump slightly, which gave me an inner satisfaction.

Zack stood up. ‘Jaidden, this is Rebecca Sinclair. She’s the woman I was telling you about on the phone. Rebecca, this is my partner, Jaidden Moon. She handles the legwork and surveillance end of the business, while I deal more with the computer side of investigating.’

She shook my hand gingerly. You can tell a lot about a person from their handshake. Men in my business seemed to think they had to prove something. Her handshake was limp and delicate, which seemed to match the rest of her at first glance. I wasn’t buying it. She’d already set off several warning bells in my head, and those warnings were rarely wrong. I sat down in the chair opposite the couch. ‘I’m sorry for your situation, and I hope we can help you.’

Rebecca wrapped her shredded tissues around her fingers as she spoke. ‘As I was telling Zack, I have reason to believe my husband, Logan, is cheating on me.’ Her lip trembled slightly as she dabbed the corners of her eyes.

‘Well, why don’t you catch me up and we’ll go from there.’ I smiled reassuringly. I was still having a hard time getting ‘Gardner Zack’ out of my head, but I was trying.

‘Well my husband is an accountant in a large construction firm downtown. He seems to be working later and later saying he’s attending marketing meetings. When I ask him who was at the meeting or what ideas they came up with, he gets defensive and angry. He says he has a lot of stress at work and doesn’t need me pressuring him about it.’

I winced a little and then tried to hide it. ‘Does he talk about anyone at work, maybe someone that’s doing a really good job or works harder than everyone else?’

‘No, he doesn’t talk about work at all. He comes home, eats dinner, and shuts himself in his office to finish his proposals. I’m asleep by the time he comes to bed, if he even makes it past the couch.’

‘Okay, Zack has a few things for you to fill out and sign. We’ll find out if your husband is doing something he shouldn’t be.’ I nodded to Zack and headed towards the kitchen. ‘Can I get either of you a cup of coffee?’

‘No thank you.’

‘I’m fine.’

I heard the front door open and close. Once back in my office with coffee in hand, Zack came in. ‘I can’t believe someone is trying to kill you. Do you have any idea who it might be?’

‘I don’t think they were actually trying to kill me. I think someone is just trying to scare me. Only problem is, I’m not sure who I’m making nervous or why.’

‘Well, whatever the case, you be careful. If you want to you could stay at my place for a few days until you figure out who’s behind this.’

‘That’s sweet but I don’t want to intrude. Besides, I’m not sure Cisco and TC would play well together. Cisco has played with other neighborhood cats just fine, but I think TC might see us an intrusion. If I change my mind I’ll let you know.’

With a smile and a nod Zack walked back to his desk. I worked late into the night getting everything set up for our new case. I emptied my pot of coffee, which was a sign I’d been working too long. I packed my equipment, told Zack good night, and went home to comfort Cisco as we both tried to get some sleep.

The next morning I parked a borrowed floral delivery truck outside Logan’s office building. I had a bouquet of red roses to deliver to his secretary with a hidden camera in the vase that I could monitor remotely. Was I infringing on Logan’s right to privacy? You bet. Was I getting paid nicely to do it? Hell yeah I was.

I put on a friendly smile and approached the receptionist’s desk. ‘Hi, I’m Erika with Jenny’s Flowers. I have a delivery for Sarah Denton.’

"I’m Sarah Denton.’

I sat the flowers on her desk pointing the camera in the vase towards Logan’s office as she reached in and plucked out the card. ‘Oh, a secret admirer, did you see who bought the flowers?’

‘I’m afraid I’m just the delivery girl. They sure are beautiful though, and a secret admirer? You’re so lucky.’ I flashed her a bigger smile.

The receptionist giggled and thanked me again. I took the delivery van back to my friend’s flower shop, picked up Cisco, and drove to the office. When I knew I’d be working late I’d take Cisco to work let him play in the side yard. He didn’t seem to mind it, and he liked chasing the squirrels.

I turned on my laptop to monitor the camera I’d placed. I picked up the mail from my desk and began to flip through it. There was the usual; bills, checks, and some advertisements. There was a letter addressed to me in handwriting I didn’t recognize. I held the envelope up to the light to see if I could see through it. Who hand writes letters anymore? It’s not that I expected it to explode but one can never be too careful, especially with recent attempts on my life. The phone rang and startled me. I dropped all the mail on the floor. I guess getting shot at can make any girl a little jumpy.

I picked it up quickly and cleared my throat. ‘Jaidden Moon.’

‘Miss Moon, you don’t know me but my name is Ashton Bane. I am the owner of Ybor City’s Necropolis, the local club on 8th Avenue. Do you know it?’ His voice was throaty, and he dragged out every syllable as if he was speaking to a child.

‘I’ve heard of it, yes.’

‘I have a job for you if you’re interested. It may be a little outside of what your firm normally handles, but it pays very well.’

I glanced at the bills on the floor. ‘I could meet with you and see if we can help. Are you free this afternoon?’

‘I’m quite busy actually, but I have sent you an invitation to our annual costume party. It should arrive today.’

I picked up the hand written envelope and opened it. ‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I’m holding it in my hand right now.’

‘I hope this isn’t too short of a notice. Come enjoy the party and I will meet with you after. Say, around midnight?’

‘That sounds fine, thank you.’

‘All right, I’ll see you then.’ The phone went dead.

I was gathering the mail from the floor just as Zack entered my office. He chuckled a little and helped me finish picking up the mess. He only grinned at me as I started re-sorting the mail.

‘I know. I’m graceful.’

‘I didn’t say a word.’ His grin said it all.

‘No, you didn’t have to. I got a phone call from a prospective client just now. He owns Ybor City’s Necropolis.’

‘Oh, really? Ashton Bane called us?’

‘You know him?’

‘I know of him. I go there sometimes. I like the techno music and flashing lights.’ Zack flashed me another grin.

I showed him the invitation and he raised his eyebrow at me. ‘That’s a rather short notice.’

‘It does sound like fun though.’

‘I wouldn’t mind attending a famous Necropolis ‘invitation only’ party.’

I couldn’t help but remembering visions of ‘Gardner Zack’. ‘Well then I suppose you’d better find an outfit because it’s a costume party.’

‘Do you have a costume?’

‘No, I don’t. And no, I won’t be going as a French maid.’ I tsked at him.

‘What?’ He tried to smile innocently, failing miserably.

‘I’ll ask my friend Tiffany if she has something I can borrow.’

‘Tiffany, the stripper?’

‘She’s not a stripper anymore. She graduated and is a nurse now.’

‘I bet she has a nice nurse costume.’ Zack wiggled his eyebrows.

I flung the invitation at him and he ducked in time to watch it go sailing over his head.

‘Okay, okay, no nurse costumes. I’m going to Orlando to see Nick. I bet he can hook me up with something.’

‘Good. Tell Nick ‘Hi’ for me and I’ll meet you at the club. I’ll wait outside.’

Zack nodded and waved as he headed for the door. I set the laptop to record the camera feed and called Tiffany. She said she would have her husband, Carter, drop something by later. I grabbed Cisco and headed