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    Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale)
    Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale)
    Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale)
    Ebook277 pages4 hours

    Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale)

    By Gerald Lopez

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    About this ebook

    Mason Kincaid’s life is about to change. He’s adjusting to being alone a year after the death of his lover when a call from his wayward sister sends him out west to New Eden to bring not only her, but her twin sons and a stepson home.

    On the outskirts of New Eden, Mason secures a room in the last place his sister’s abusive boyfriend would expect: an adult motel where an eccentric madam allows the children to stay for a price. Despite her warnings about a resident ghost, after one night, Mason’s sure that fending off groping apparitions and violent johns will be his biggest problems. But when he meets Officer Ken Cannon for the second time, it’s at the scene of a double murder.

    With the possibility of romance looming in the background, bodies start piling up around Mason. While learning who he can trust, he must deal with a lovesick teenager, a ghost with a message for him, and becoming the owner of a hotel that once belonged to his “friendly” ghost. A hotel someone’s willing to kill for.
    .

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGerald Lopez
    Release dateOct 1, 2016
    ISBN9781370207701
    Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale)
    Author

    Gerald Lopez

    Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for Gerald—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

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      Book preview

      Dead Men Tell Tales (A New Eden Tale) - Gerald Lopez

      Copyright © 2014, 2016 by Gerald Lopez

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      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.

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

      Cover Art Copyright © 2016 by Gerald Lopez

      Acknowledgments

      My thanks to Camiele White who was gracious enough to help me edit my original story.

      John, thanks again for all of your help, it's very much appreciated.

      And to my best friend J. C. for always being there.

      Dedication

      I want to dedicate this book to Grandma for always being supportive and encouraging. Thank you for lighting candles and saying prayers. And thank you for your funny and outgoing personality which helped inspire me to write the Gran character in this book. No—my grandma has never owned a motel/whorehouse or a shotgun. But she and Gran from Dead Men are kindred souls. To Dad and Papa, two of the strongest most loyal men I know. Thank you for your love and encouragement. I think of the three of you together in my life and am inspired.

      Table of Contents

      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

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Contact the author

      About the author

      Other books by Gerald Lopez

      Dead Men Tell Tales

      (A New Eden Tale)

      Gerald Lopez

      Chapter 1

      Beginnings

      AT FIRST HE FOUND the desert scenery fascinating, with its various shades of orange, brown, and gold shining in the light, reflecting on the barren sands. Vistas of tall, majestic mountains and jagged red rock filled a cloudless blue sky. Then it became merely somewhat interesting until finally it all just seemed the same. Mason Kincaid drove along the seemingly endless road which was devoid of traffic except for the occasional car. Just looking at the high sun’s rays on the surface ahead made him grateful his SUV had great air conditioning in top working order. He did pass several rest stops, and when using a couple of them noticed signs warning people to be on the lookout for poisonous snakes. Looking at the now bleak and brown scenery around him, he became unimpressed. It all just looks like different shades of shit to me, he thought. That made him reflect about the reason for this excursion.

      His sister, Jackie, had finally decided to leave the man she’d been living with for the last ten years. At age twenty-five, she’d met and run off with a forty-two-year-old named Ryan Nelson. She’d written Mason often, telling him about her life with Ryan and how she stripped and prostituted herself to support Ryan and his son from a previous relationship. Mason had tried numerous times to get her to leave the man, whom he considered to be a loser. But she never took him seriously. It was all to no avail until, one day out of the blue, she’d called using the excuse that she wanted to offer her condolences. Mason’s seventy-year-old partner, Lewis Blake, had succumbed to liver cancer a year earlier, so his sister’s condolences were a bit late. Thinking back, Mason remembered something being said about family needing to stick together and blood being thicker than water. Jackie had also mentioned being ashamed for the things she’d done in her past and not wanting her twin sons to live the same way she and Ryan were living. She was ready to come home to Mason, her only living relative. Before hanging up the phone, his sister had made him promise to also take in Ryan’s nineteen-year-old son, Robbie Hunter. He felt suddenly angry, thinking of the bastard Ryan, and slammed his fist on the steering wheel.That asshole didn’t mind fathering children, but damn if he ever gave any of them his last name, Mason thought.

      Jackie’s twin boys had Kincaid as their last name. As he neared his destination, a town named New Eden, Mason’s mind drifted again. His thoughts went to Lewis, whom he still mourned and deeply missed. Before leaving the mountains outside of the valley town, he began looking for hotels. In case the bastard came after his sister and the kids, Mason wanted to be somewhere he felt safe and where Ryan wouldn’t look. He saw a small and desolate-looking one-story motel with a high privacy fence all around the back. The sign in front said, Paradise Arms Motel, an adult paradise. It listed amenities, including porn channels on the TV and a clothing-optional adult pool. No children allowed.

      Perfect, Mason thought . A small exchange of money should take care of the no kids rule, at least for a night. He pulled into the parking lot, where he saw a few other cars, then looked into his rearview mirror. At thirty-seven, his face was a bit chiseled and rough, but nicely tanned. His short, dark—almost black, hair was receding a little in front, but that only made his clear blue eyes stand out more. Stepping out of the car, he could instantly feel the heat of the day through his boots, jeans, and pullover V-neck shirt. He shut the door of the SUV, using the clicker to lock it as he walked to the motel office to check in.

      The decor inside appeared old but clean, and everything was done in shades of the ever present desert colors. The sun shining through a large picture window in the back of the room made the specks of gold on the glazed orange floor tiles shimmer. Mason couldn’t resist touching the faux rocks that were glued or cemented onto the wall. Through the aforementioned window, he could see an inviting patio and pool with water so clear and blue it made him feel cooler just looking at it. He rang the small bell on the front desk, and almost instantly, a woman of medium height appeared. The proprietress looked sixtysomething and had white hair, part of which she’d styled piled on top of her head while the rest hung loose in back. She was deeply tanned, and it actually made her look younger. This fact came as a surprise to Mason, as he thought it would have the opposite effect. Her eyes were lost behind rhinestone-covered zebra-print eyeglasses perched on the end of her nose. When she lowered her head and peered over her glasses, Mason saw she had hazel eyes.

      How’s it hangin’, hun? I’m Anna Cannon, been working this old place since my son of a bitch father left my momma and me. But that’s probably more than you wanted to know. What can I do you fer?Mason stood silently, mesmerized by her low-hanging breasts, that swung to and fro the whole time she talked. He watched her arch her back and stick her chest out as she spoke. She’d obviously noticed his stare.

      In their day, they were quite the perky tits, she said. At my age now I just can’t be bothered to rein them in, so I just let ’em go with the flow. Life is easier if you just learn to go with the flow. Ya know what I mean, hun?

      Yeah, I get it, Mason said. Your…. He hesitated, trying to think of the right word. Your girls just had me hypnotized for a second. I’m looking for a room with two queen-size beds for two nights. It’ll just be me tonight, then my sister and her kids tomorrow night.

      What’s the matter, you illiterate or something that you can’t read where it says adults only on that sign out there?

      I can read just fine. I’m getting my sister away from an abusive relationship, and her man won’t think to look for us in an adults-only establishment. Her kids are just three weeks old, so they won’t notice anything going on here. Besides, I understand you’ll be putting yourself out, and I’m prepared to pay extra for the inconvenience. He removed his wallet from his back pocket and started going through a wad of twenties.

      Anna put her open palm forward and motioned with her free hand to keep it coming till he got to a hundred. She saw him starting to add another twenty and put her free hand up to stop him. After flipping through the cash, she lifted her shirt bottom a little and put the bundle of bills in the waistband of her pants.

      I’m a businesswoman first, but I aim to be fair. And I’m always happy to help a woman in need like your sister. That money bought you security and safety. Her man will never know she’s here. Now for the room itself, that’ll be fifty-nine dollars a night. That’s my regular fee.

      Mason reached for more cash and gave her enough to cover two nights. Anna rang him up and put that money in the register before speaking again.

      In the back there’s a clothing-optional pool—that’s why we have the high fence that goes around the whole ass end of the motel. All of the rooms have back doors leading out to the patio and pool, but there’s no outside entrance. So you can feel secure. You’ll see anyone coming in from the front, no surprises there. She reached down to get something.Mason thought it would be the room key but was shocked when she pulled out a shotgun.

      If your sister’s man comes around, just holler, and me and Suzie Q here—she patted her shotgun before continuing—we’ll come running. Suzie’s always loaded and ready for action. If anything happens, we can just say the son of a bitch came for the till. That’ll keep things simple for the cops. My dad didn’t treat my momma and me right when he was around, so I don’t take kindly to fuckers like your sister’s man! Pardon my French. She put the shotgun away.

      Nothing to pardon, Mason said. He is a damn fucker!

      Anna handed him his room key and smiled. I like you. What’s your name, son?

      Mason Kincaid, my sister’ s Jackie. Her kids are Kincaids too. The fucker couldn’t bother to give ’em his name.

      Better for the kids not to be saddled with the name of a no-good fuck of a father. You’re in room seventeen. Take some time to relax. If you need company, a massage or something, the girls at the pool are available… for a price.

      Not really my scene, ma’am. He headed toward the front door as Anna kept talking.

      Well, maybe we can find you something. Oh! Wait, wait there a minute, Mason.

      Mason turned around to face her and was again surprised at what she held in her hand. Is that a chicken foot? he said.

      It is, and I usually charge five dollars for these. Anna walked up to him and put the chicken foot in his hand. Keep it close just in case you get visitors in the night.

      What kind of visitor, Colonel Sanders?

      Haven’t seen Colonel Sanders yet, but the dead don’t sleep easy in these parts. To get rid of ’em you’ve got to find out what they’re afraid of, and our particular house ghost is scared of chicken feet. It’s got something to do with the fact someone he knew practiced black magic or voodoo or something. It’s okay if you don’t believe me. Just keep it close to you.

      Mason nodded his head, walked out the door to his SUV, and moved it to the parking space assigned to room seventeen. He grabbed his rolling suitcase from the back of the vehicle and headed inside. There were the two queen-size beds he’d asked for, as well as a table and chairs. The bathroom was to the left, and he noticed the aforementioned sliding-glass door at the back of the room. Everything looked spotless, even though the decor was a little old, like in the lobby. The floor tile matched that in the lobby and there were large mirrors above each bed. Kinky, he thought. After walking to the sliding door and opening the blinds, he looked outside. It was nice. He saw the high privacy fence, and the pool surrounded by a textured cement patio, on top of which were tables and chairs under large umbrellas. There was a small portable bar to the far right. Once the blinds were closed again, the room was dark, so he turned on the amber-colored glass table lamps and started to unpack.

      After unpacking, he felt hot, and kicked off his boots, socks, jeans, and shirt until he was in his briefs, then stopped to look in the full-length mirror behind the door. His hairline didn’t bother him, but he noticed he’d lost some weight. He and Lewis had owned a moving company, and they’d sometimes had to help with the manual labor when workers didn’t show up. That, combined with working out daily, had given him a nicely built body. While he still had the big arms and tight muscles, he’d lost mass while taking care of his sick partner. I’m not as built, but it’s tight—and all muscle, he thought. Remembering what Anna said about the pool area, he removed his briefs and wasn’t displeased with what he saw. He walked to the sliding door, pulled back the blinds, pushed open the door, and walked to the pool.

      While he’d been busy unpacking his things, the pool had become occupied. A hairy, middle-aged man, naked except for a cowboy hat, was in the water sipping a frosty drink. Mason walked down the steps leading into the pool. The sun beating down on the water all day had made it a nice temperature.

      Howdy, the man said.

      Howdy, Mason said.

      You here for business or pleasure? the man said. Me, I’m done with work and waiting for the pleasure to start.

      Mason smiled his best good old boy smile at the man, then replied, I’m not so lucky. I’m here to pick up my wayward family and bring ’em home.

      Oh, the man said. Well, it don’t mean you can’t have a good time in between all the family shit. I heard there’s plenty of fun to be had here, if you know what I mean. And it’s all legal in this area.

      Almost as if on cue, two shapely women walked into the pool area. Both wore small bikinis and very high heels. One of the women had pale skin, red hair, and a shapely figure. The other had brunette hair with streaks. She had a more slender body and smaller breasts than the redhead.

      Mind if we join you, boys? the redhead said.

      Not at all, the man in the cowboy hat said. Come on in, ladies.

      The redhead and her friend walked into the pool, shedding their tops as they did so. Both swam over to Mason’s new acquaintance and hung onto him with their breasts inches from his face. The man wasn’t shy, and he put his arm around the brunette.

      I just love itty-bitty titties, the man said. But how’s about my friend over there. He motioned toward Mason.

      Before Mason could speak, the redhead made an excuse for him. Oh, honey, your friend just got in. He’s a li’l hot and tired, she said, winking at Mason.

      And besides, the more for you, friend, Mason said.

      Got that right. What do you say we continue this party in my room, girls?

      Anna walked into the patio area as the threesome started exiting the pool. There to take care of the business end of things for sure, Mason thought. He swam around the pool a bit before going back inside his room, looking forward to what he thought would be a quiet night.

      Chapter 2

      Ghostly Encounter

      MASON WALKED BACK to his room, dried himself, and without bothering to get dressed, threw himself onto the bed closest to the back door. Looking over at the clock on the side table between the beds, he caught sight of the chicken foot and laughed. That was probably the only freebie he’d get in this place.

      He looked around the room and thought about the first vacation he and Lewis had taken. It was a happy time, long ago. All those years together, and they were so satisfied with one another that they didn’t need anyone else in their lives. Work kept them busy, and others just seemed like intruders on their private time together. Only lately had Mason started feeling truly alone. The time right after Lewis passed had kept him so busy that he hadn’t had time to dwell on the fact it was just him. Now he craved company; people to share his life with in a meaningful way. That’s the good thing about coming here, Mason thought. I won’t be leaving alone. The thought of soon having others in his life on a more daily basis felt good. That put a smile on his face and made him feel more relaxed than he’d felt in a very long time.

      While watching himself in the mirror above the bed, he ran his hand along his tight abs and chest. The man in the pool with the cowboy hat wasn’t exactly his type, but he was naked, and it had been a while since Mason had been with anyone. As he closed his eyes for a moment and rolled over, Mason’s lustful thoughts gave way to his need for sleep. It wasn’t long before he felt something sucking at the left side of his neck and swatted at it. He went back to sleep and felt the same sucking at the right side of his neck, and swatted at it with his eyes still closed.

      Damn flies, Mason said.

      He tried to sleep on his back and felt hands massaging his weary body. I must be dreaming, he thought. Oh shit,he said, that feels fucking great.Soft kisses trailed down his chest. This is no dream, he thought, opening his eyes and seeing the dark outline of a man on top of him. Mason put his arms under his head, enjoying the moment. Guess I’ll be owing Anna some more money in the morning, he said, looking up into the deep brown eyes, curly black hair, and strong arms of a black man. The man looked hazy to him for a moment. Mason rubbed his eyes, but it didn’t help. His heart skipped a beat. Either his eyes were going bad, or something worse was happening. He pushed the man back and felt… nothing. Nothing but empty air.

      Mason rubbed his eyes again, and as he did so, felt something rubbing against his ass. Oh no, dude! Hell no. It was trying to enter him. Mason could feel it, but when he grabbed at the man on top of him, his hands went right through him. Shit! Holy fucking shit! he said. A fucking queer motherfucking ghost! He started to panic, then remembered what Anna had told him.

      Reaching toward the nightstand, he grabbed the chicken foot and waved it in front of the ghost. There was a loud shriek, and with a horrified look, the specter disappeared. Mason jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom, where he splashed water in his face. Walking to the sliding door, he opened the blinds, then the door, and went out to the patio.

      It was night, and small twinkling lights illuminated the fence and pool area. As Mason entered the pool, he noticed a chunky, bald, black man in the corner. It didn’t look like his ghost.

      Don’t worry, brother, the man said, I’m real, alive, and breathing, unlike your visitor."

      Mason swam over to him, still shaken from his encounter.

      The man extended his hand to him. Name’s Ray James. I can see by your pale and drained face that you’ve met our resident ghost.

      Mason nodded his head. Fuck yeah, I met him! Damned thing tried to fuck my ass. Even living men don’t get to go there with me. He shook his head, trying to compose himself. Forcing himself to speak slowly and in a less frantic way, he continued, I’m Mason Kincaid. Nice to meet you, Ray. He felt his voice faltering and took another minute. I’m stronger than any damn ghost, he told himself. His voice was back to normal and his fear reined in for the moment. What’s the story with the ghost fucker?

      "Oh, that’s just Sam Jenkins still looking for his lover that killed him.

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