Long Shadows won the Silver Medal in the Mystery Fiction category of Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards competition.
A cozy mystery, Long Shadows is a novel of intrigue, danger, and unexpected twists and turns. Let me tell you a little about it...
Fear and unanswered questions haunt La Casa, the mansion of tycoon Frank Petroni and his wife, Maria. Their eldest son, Tony, died in a suspicious auto accident twenty years ago, and his wife and three-year-old daughter disappeared soon after. They are still missing.
When two strangers arrive at the Petroni mansion, their presence resurrects past mysteries and sets off a series of deadly events. Hidden secrets surface, envy and jealousy erupt, and death once more stalks the family. Was Tony murdered? Will his wife and daughter be found? Does a killer walk among them? If the hidden answers to these mysteries surface, will they prove to be lethal?
Read the prologue of Long Shadows:
The whisper broke the stillness of the night.
The whisper broke the stillness of the night.
“Lisa, wake up.”
Moaning sleepily, Lisa turned away. The soft voice intruded into her dreams once again. A hand shook her shoulder.
“Wake up, Lisa, wake up.”
She opened her eyes. Dim light cast deep shadows on the face hovering above her. Whimpering, she drew away until she came fully awake and realized who gazed down at her.
“What’s the matter, Mommy?”
“Shhh, whisper. We don’t want anyone to hear us. You must do exactly as I say.”
Lisa frowned. Mother used that tone of voice only when she said something very important or was upset with her.
“Come, I’ll help you get dressed. We have to hurry.”
After lifting Lisa from under the covers, Mother pulled the nightgown over her head.
Confused, Lisa protested. “But it’s still nighttime.”
“I know, honey, but tonight’s a special night. We’re going on a trip. Look, you have a new shirt and jeans.”
“It’s too dark in here.” Lisa reached for the lamp beside her bed, but her wrist was caught in a tight grip.
“No, don’t turn on the light.” The whisper was harsh. “We can see well enough.”
“B-but…” Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. She sniffled as jeans were tugged on her legs and her shirt buttoned.
“Don’t be frightened. Everything’s all right,” her mother said in a softer tone. “But it’s very late, and we don’t want to wake Grandma and Grandpa by turning on lights or talking loud.”
Lisa’s eyes widened when the dim shape of her mother moved further into the weak glow cast by the nightlight.
“What happened to your hair, Mommy? How did it get so dark?”
A swift, nervous flutter of her mother’s hand touched strands once golden blonde like the soft locks falling to Lisa’s shoulders.
“I think it’s prettier this way, don’t you?”
“I-I guess so.”
Bending down, Mommy put Lisa’s favorite teddy bear in her arms. She smiled, but Lisa didn’t think it was a happy smile because her mother’s eyes had tears in them.
“We’re going to take Bear on a secret adventure. It will be such fun, sweetie, just like your storybooks.”
“Are we going far away?”
“Yes, very far.” With quick, sure strokes her mother braided Lisa’s hair. Pinning the braid on top of Lisa’s head, she pulled a hat down tight.
“This adventure is just for you and me. Remember, it’s a secret. We’re going to pretend you’re my little boy, so don’t take the hat off. If anyone asks, you’ll say your name is Jamie, okay?”
Lisa giggled. “Okay. Will I be a little boy for the whole adventure?”
“No, just while we’re traveling. Afterward, you’ll be my sweet girl again.”
Lisa grinned; this sounded like fun. “I like adventures.”
“I know you do. Now we’re going to tiptoe down the stairs very, very quietly. We don’t want anyone to hear us. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Of course you do. You’re a big girl now, almost four years old.”
Mother closed the door behind them without making a sound. Taking Lisa’s hand, she clutched it as they moved along the dark hallway. Only the moonlight and faint illumination from outside lights filtered through the skylight and windows to light their way.
Trying hard to move quietly, Lisa walked on the tips of her toes to the head of the stairway. They started down. One of the steps creaked. It sounded loud in the dark, silent house. Mommy gasped and stopped. Her grip on Lisa’s hand tightened until it hurt a little, but Lisa didn’t say anything. Sensing her mother’s alarm, she stood unmoving in the shadows, bewildered and frightened, for what seemed a long time. Finally the clasp on her fingers loosened, and they started down the stairway again. Lisa continued to tiptoe until her mother opened the front door, just wide enough for them to slip through.
Outside, under the roofed portico, Mommy put her finger to her lips, warning Lisa not to talk yet. They descended three steps leading to the long curved driveway. Lisa could hear palm trees rustling in the soft breeze as they hurried toward the entrance to the estate. The heavy wrought iron gate squeaked when Mother pulled it open. She moved through the entryway swiftly, but paused outside to look up at the sign over the gate.
Lisa remembered being carried on Daddy’s shoulders one day while he read the sign to her: La Nostra Casa. “It means Our Home,” he’d said.
Leaving the gate open, mother turned away and started down the road.
“Where are we going, Mommy? To Heaven? Will we meet Daddy there?”
“No, Lisa, Daddy had to go to Heaven, but we can’t go there yet.” Mother sighed and quickened her pace.
“I’m tired, Mommy. You’re walking too fast.”
Stooping down, her mother swung Lisa up into her arms. Lisa looked back. Moonlight glinted on the trees and shone silvery-white on the house. Putting her head down on Mommy’s shoulder, Lisa watched her home recede into the dark night.
