Day of the Dead: A Novel of Suspense (Walker Family Mysteries, 3) - Softcover

Jance, J. A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380724340 ISBN 13: 9780380724345

Publisher: Avon, 2005

Synopsis

The smash New York Times bestselling author continues the chilling tale begun in Kiss of the Bees and Hour of the Hunter with this shocking new tale of knife-edge suspense

The Walker family survived the atrocities perpetrated by a serial killer and his crazed acolyte in both Hour of the Hunter and Kiss of the Bees. But can they escape the vengeance of a new enemy whose target is their precious daughter, Lani?

Told they’re traveling to a loving adoptive family in southern Arizona, young girls are being spirited away from an orphanage deep in Colonial Mexico. But the fate that awaits them is truly horrifying. And when death comes, it will be a blessing.

Former Sheriff Brandon Walker is a reluctant retiree. Golf just can’t replace the action and sense of purpose his job provided. When he’s invited to join The Last Chance Club to review and long-cold unsolved cases, he has no idea that the first case to cross his path will be one he may have botched as a young sheriff. And when the case from all those decades past becomes entangled with a current murder, it seems a serial killer with a very long and shocking track record may be back in business . . .

About this title

About the Author

J. A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, six thrillers about the Walker Family, and one volume of poetry. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, she lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington.

From the Back Cover

The Walker family survived the atrocities perpetrated by a serial killer and his crazed acolyte in both Hour of the Hunter and Kiss of the Bees. But can they escape the vengeance of a new killer or killers whose sights have been set on their precious daughter, Lani? Young girls are being spirited away from an orphanage deep in Colonial Mexico -- told they're traveling to a loving adoptive family in southern Arizona, their hopes are high. But the fate that waits for them is truly horrifying: when death comes, it will be a blessing....

Former Sheriff Brandon Walker is living the life of a reluctant retiree. Playing golf while his wife, Diana Ladd, continues to write her bestselling tales of true crime, he desperately misses the action and sense of usefulness from days gone by. When he’s invited to join the Last Chance Club to review and attempt to solve long-cold cases, he little imagines the first case to cross his path will be one he may have botched back when he was sheriff. And when the case from all those decades past becomes entangled with a current murder, it seems a serial killer with a very long and shocking track record may be back in business....

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Day of the Dead

By J. Jance

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Copyright ©2005 J. Jance
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0380724340

Chapter One

They say it happened long ago that I'itoi,Elder Brother, came to a village to see ifhis Desert People had enough water afterthe long summer heat.

As he walked along he heard a crowd of Indianchildren playing. He stopped for a whileand watched them, listening to the music oftheir voices and laughter. About that time ElderBrother saw an old woman carrying a heavyload of wood for her cooking fire. Old Womanwas not as happy and carefree as the children.She had no energy to sing or play.

About that time an old coyote came andstood by I'itoi. He, too, watched the children.Old Coyote's ribs showed under his thin,ragged coat. Like Old Woman, Old Coyotecould no longer play and dance. His paws weretoo stiff and sore from just walking around inthe desert.

Seeing Old Woman and Old Coyote madeI'itoi sad. Because Elder Brother's heart was heavy, he couldn't walk very fast. He went tothe shade of some cottonwood trees to rest. Itwas autumn, so the leaves on the tree hadturned yellow, but they still made shade.

As Great Spirit sat under the trees, hethought about the children at play and abouthow different they would be when they grewold. He thought about some young calves hehad seen that morning in a field and about howthey would change as they grew older. Hethought about a young colt he had seen kickingup its heels with joy, and he thought about how,one day, Young Colt would become Old Horse.He thought about flowers and about how theirleaves withered and their colors faded whenthey grew old.

Thinking about these things, I'itoi decidedhe would like to have something around himthat would not change as it became old. Hewanted something that would not grow heavylike the cows and horses or wrinkled and bentlike old men and women or dry and colorless likedead flowers. Great Spirit wanted somethingthat would always stay happy and beautiful likethe children.

As I'itoi was thinking these things under thecottonwood trees, he looked up. He saw the yellowleaves. He saw the blue sky through theleaves. He saw the shadows under the yellowleaves. He looked down and saw streaks andspots of sunlight dancing around on the ground just as the Indian Children had danced. ThenGreat Spirit laughed, for you see, nawoj -- myfriend, I'itoi had found just what he wanted.

March 16, 2000

Brandon Walker stood in front of the bathroommirror locked in mortal combat with the stubbornstrings of his bow tie. As sweat dampened hisbrow and soaked through the underarms of hisstarched white shirt, he longed for the good olddays when, as Pima County sheriff, he could haveshown up at one of these cattle calls in his dressuniform instead of having to put on a stupidtuxedo.

There was a tap on the door. "Are you ready?"Diana asked. "It's getting late."

"Then you'd better come help me with thisdamned tie," Brandon grunted.

Diana opened the door, and her reflectionjoined his in the mirror. She was so beautiful thatseeing her took Brandon's breath away. She wasdressed in a deep blue full-length taffeta gownthat complemented every inch of her still slimfigure. In the cleft at the base of her throat a diamondsolitaire pendant hung from a slender goldchain. That single piece of jewelry had cost morethan Brandon's first house. Her auburn hair,highlighted now with natural streaks of gray, waspulled back in an elegant French twist.

"Hi, gorgeous," he said.

She smiled back at him. "You're not so badyourself. What's the trouble?"

"The bow," he said. "I'm all fumble fingers."It took only a few seconds for her to untangleand straighten the tie. "There," she said, pattinghis shoulder. "Now let's get going."

Brandon picked up his jacket from the bed andshrugged his way into it as he followed his wifedown the hall. "Which car?" he asked. "Mine oryours?"

"Yours," she said.

They drove east from Gates Pass and intodowntown Tucson to the community centerwhere the Tucson Man and Woman of the Yearbenefit gala was being held. The honorees, Gayleand Dr. Lawrence Stryker, were friends of DianaLadd's dating back to her days as a teacher on theTohono O'odham Reservation. Now a local luminary,Diana had been asked to give a short introductoryand no doubt laudatory speech. Brandon'splan was to go, be seen, and do his best to beagreeable. But when it came to Larry and GayleStryker, he intended to keep his mouth firmlyshut. That would be best for all concerned.

Larry Stryker sat on the dais overlookingthe decorated ballroom filled with candlelit banquettables and listened as Diana Ladd stood atthe microphone and spoke about old times.

"As some of you know, in the early seventies Iwent through a rough patch. I was teaching on thereservation, had lost my husband, and had abrand-new baby. Not many people stuck with meduring that time, but Larry and Gayle Strykerdid, and I'll always be grateful for that. Over theyears it's been gratifying for me to see whatthey've done with their lives and to watch asthey've turned a single idea into a powerful toolfor good."

Larry searched the sea of upturned faces untilhe caught sight of Brandon Walker sitting at oneof the foremost tables. The former sheriff, lookinguncomfortable and out of his element in what wasprobably a rented tux, sat with his arms foldedacross his chest. Their eyes met briefly. Brandonnodded in acknowledgment, but there was nothingfriendly in the gesture -- on either side.

Former sheriff. That was the operant wordhere. While Diana Ladd spoke of the good oldtimes, Larry was free to let his thoughts drift backto those times as well. Fortunately, no one in theroom -- most especially Brandon Walker -- wasable to read his mind.

Continues...

Excerpted from Day of the Deadby J. Jance Copyright ©2005 by J. Jance. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Avon
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0380724340
• ISBN 13: 9780380724345
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 416