The Wastelands novels

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Posted on February 26, 2024, by Dello

The Wastelands Series

Wastelands Zero

The hand was mangled. It looked chewed, a finger missing, maybe an accident with a dog, his mind supplied. Accidents with dogs happened. #Zombie #Apocalypse #Readers #Horror #Apple #Nook #D2D https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wastelands-zero/id6471373735

Wastelands One

Andrea Zurita was a young woman, there seemed no reason for her sudden illness and death, but there were things that should be done and so the local Mirukus, shaman had come. #Plague #Virus #Apocalypse #Zombie #Horror https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wastelands-one/id6471373649

Wastelands Two

A blur farther along the line of buildings caught his attention, and he watched as another woman, also dead – he could tell from the way her skin stretched too tightly on her face… #Horror #Zombie #ApocalypticFiction #Apocalypse #Readers

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wastelands-two/id6471418888

Singles

The Dope Man

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This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book 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 are
reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use
only, then please return to your bookseller and purchase your own copy. Thank
you for respecting the hard work of this author.

LEGAL

This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters,
places or incidents depicted are products of the author’s imagination. Any
resemblance to actual living persons places, situations or events is purely
coincidental.

Manhattan

Wednesday evening

“You have a beautiful view, Mr. Clay,” Sharp said. He stood on the balcony of
the top floor of Clay’s building which was his home in Manhattan and where his
wife and two daughters lived full-time.

“I am rarely here,” Clay said. “But I do enjoy the view when I am. My
wife and daughters seem to like it too. My eldest daughter, Lita, seems to
enjoy it more than my wife Esmeralda or my youngest Mia.” His eyes slid to
Carlos who met them with his own. “But We are working on that, aren’t
we?” His comments seemed directed a Carlos. Carlos nodded. Not sure what
he should say or do. “We are,” Clay said. He sipped at his drink.
“Are we all set for tomorrow?” he asked Carlos?

“We are,” Carlos said. “We will drive back to The Burg later
tonight.”

“You own a home there?” He turned to Sharp.

“Yes. Everything is there; we’ll take it from there to the meet in The Burg. Carlos
will go with that, I’ll pick up the cash and then meet your guys there,”
Sharp said.

Clay nodded. “It seems like Sin Q and I should just dispense with all the drama
and just deliver the stuff directly to each other,” he said. He laughed,
“But that would put both of you out of a job. And there are so many things
I can’t handle as well or do not have the time or inclination to handle as well
as you two.”

He was interrupted by Carlos’ cell phone ringing. Carlos’ dark face flushed with
embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” he said, obviously not about to answer
it. He fumbled it out of his pocket ready to shut it off.

“No, no,” Clay said. “We were done. Take your call. It is all right,
Carlos. Take it out here on the balcony. Sharp and I will give you a little
privacy… Won’t we, Sharp?” he asked.

Sharp nodded and they both stepped through into the living room and pulled the
sliding glass door shut.

“Hello,” Carlos said, obviously upset. He listened. “I cannot believe you called me
here,” he said. His voice was high and panicked. “Are you crazy? Did
you know he was here with me? Right here with me? He is in the living
room separated by a few panes of glass. You are crazy. Crazy,” he
took a couple of deep breaths while she spoke. “No… That is even
crazier! While he is right here? Meet you with him in the house? Are you trying
to get me killed…? No? It seems as though you are… It does… No…
How…? How will he not know?” He listened for a few minutes glancing
nervously through the glass, but Sharp and Clay stood with their backs to him
over by the bar.

“Lita,” he said at last, “I will meet you… Nothing else… I have to leave later
on…”

She continued to talk.

Sharp stood silently drinking his drink. The two voices came clearly through the
small scanner behind the bar. They listened to the conversation between Lita
and Carlos.

“Did you know, Sharp that they were simply radio signals and they can be picked up
easily?” Clay asked.

“Yes… I did… Although I did not realize it could be done this easily,” Sharp
said.

“Cheap frequency scanner. I only need to know the frequency.” He sighed.
“I’m sorry you are a witness to this embarrassment. I treated him like a
son… She is my daughter. He has obviously corrupted her… Take him down
through the basement, leave that way… Bring me back what I requested, Sharp.
I would almost do it myself right now, but I will not bring murder into my
home… Call me?” he asked.

Sharp nodded. It was obvious that the conversation was over. Clay reached behind the
bar and flicked off the scanner. He pulled his phone from his pocket and
punched in a number.

“Yes… Bring Mr. Sharp’s car to the basement elevator… Thank you.” He hung up
just as Carlos came back in through the sliding glass doors, rubbing his arms.

“A little cool, eh?” Clay asked.

“A little,” Carlos answered. “About the phone call,” he started.

Clay held up his hand. “Not necessary. Besides, we have had a change in plans.
Sharp here, along with you will drive back now. A little earlier than we
planned, but apparently Mr. Sharp needs to take care of something for Sin Q
this evening… So… You see?” He shook Sharp’s hand. “Your car is
waiting at the basement entrance.” He looked to Carlos, but his face was a
mask: Unreadable. Carlos said goodbye and followed Sharp to the elevator.

On the road:

The idiot lights came on: Sharp’s Ford bucked twice and then died. Carlos looked
over from where he had been watching the lights of Manhattan slip away. They
were in an abandoned industrial area on their way across the city.

“Not good,” Carlos said. “Especially here.”

“Hopefully it’s not a big deal,” Sharp said. “And who would be stupid enough to
mess with us?” he asked. He laughed and Carlos joined in. “I think
it’s a loose wire. It happened once before,” Sharp said. He coasted the
car to a stop and shifted into park. He reached down, pulled the release handle
and the hood popped up.

“With all the money you make? You should buy a better car,” Carlos said.

Sharp nodded… “Too cheap, I guess. Will you pop that glove box and see if
there’s a flashlight in there? Should
be.”

Carlos searched briefly and pulled out the flashlight, held it to his chin and turned
it on. He laughed. “Makes me look like a dead guy,” Carlos said and
laughed again.

Sharp nodded. “Come and hold it for me and we’ll get this baby fixed and be on
our way.”

They both climbed out and walked to the front of the car. Sharp popped the second
hood latch and pulled the prop rod into the air. “Back here,” Sharp
said. He pointed to a block of wires and one loose red wire that had pulled
free. “I knew it,” he said. “Hang on, let me get the tape. Fix
it a little better this time,” Sharp said. He ducked back into the car and
Carlos stood holding the flashlight and thinking to himself; wishing he
could have met Lita, but glad that he had not; if Clay ever found out he would
be a dead man. He felt the car shift as Sharp got back out and came around to
stand beside him.

“Hey?” Sharp said in a soft voice.

Carlos looked over at him.

“It’s not personal. I would have done her too,” Sharp said. His hand came up
fast and he shot Carlos twice between the eyes before he could say anything.
Carlos dropped straight down: Folding up as he went. Sharp shot his hand out
and snatched the flashlight out of the air before it hit the ground. He bent
down and checked the pulse at the side of Carlos’ neck to make sure, but Carlos
was gone. The silenced 22 was perfect. Not enough velocity to exit the back of
his head, just enough to kill him dead. He walked around to the back of the
car.

He unlocked the trunk and pulled out a plastic rain suit and slipped it on. The
trunk was lined in plastic. All taped up the sides and ready. He walked back
around to the front of the car, ran a piece of duct tape over the hole in
Carlos’ head and pressed it tight so there would be little spillage. He picked
him up in his arms and carried him to the trunk. The plastic was there just in
case. You never knew. He slammed the trunk, walked back around to the front of
the car and slammed the hood shut. He got back in and flipped the small kill
switch under the dash that cut out the ignition hot wire. You could buy them in
any automotive supply store; wire them in to stop someone from stealing your
car even if they hotwired it. He pulled back out onto the road and drove on
into the blackness.

Manhattan

Atimus Clay’s Penthouse

Lita watched the balcony. There were two ways to reach it: From her bedroom or her sister Mia’s bedroom.
Since Mia was rarely in her room it was the easiest way for Carlos to get to
the balcony without being seen. Lita’s bedroom door was on the edge of the U
shaped hallway, her parents on the opposite end with their own balcony. It was
divided from the girl’s by the building’s structure which protruded there, and
Mia’s bedroom was in the center where no one passing by would see him enter.

Her lights were off. The bedroom dark, but there was enough light to see dimly from
the outside. She was bare beneath the thin sheets that covered her. She did not
intend to let him get away too soon: Once his hands told him what his eyes
could not see he would not think of leaving.

She saw the shadow move out on the balcony. It separated from the other shadows and
came slowly to the door. The door whispered on its track. A breath of cold air
swept into the room. Her nipples became erect and poked at the thin sheet.

He came to the bed and looked down at her from the thick shadows. She sat up
slowly; letting the sheets slide away from her body.

He caught his breath. She laughed carelessly and her hands moved to his waist, her
fingers working his zipper. His hand came up behind her head, a little roughly,
but it was okay. Rough could be good as long as it was not too rough.

She realized something was wrong and she started to pull away. The feel, his
cologne, something, all of it. It just felt wrong. This was not Carlos.
The hand tried to bring her back, but she fought and started to crawl across
the bed.

She had no idea who was with her; she only knew it was not Carlos. Even so
something about him was familiar. The feel of his hands… Something…
She tried to crawl across the bed and away for him, but he grabbed her roughly
and pulled her back.

“I’ll scream… I’ll scream… I swear I will,” she gasped. Fear causing
her shortness of breath. “My father will kill you… Kill you…” Her
voice was high and frightened.

“Scream, whore. No one will hear you. I sent them all away for the night!”

She stopped… Father, she thought. Sudden pain flared inside of her head as
one of his hands flashed out and rocked her head back on her neck. Stars
bloomed across her vision, she nearly blacked out.

“Filthy, Slut,” he screamed as he hit her again. She collapsed on the bed, barely
conscience. A phone began to ring somewhere as she slipped into
unconsciousness.

Clay answered the phone. He listened. “Thank you… Thank you, so much,”
he said. He closed the phone and dropped it into his trouser pocket. He looked
down at Lita curled up on her side. Blood running from her nose. He reached
down and removed his shoes one at a time, lowered his body to the bed and
stretched out beside her…

Come along on a crazy ride with all sorts of shady characters: Mob button men. Crime syndicate bosses, crocked and Dollar, a low level loser just trying to stay alive… #CrimeFiction #Readers #Mob #Apple #CrimeBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-dope-man/id6478402413

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