“It is with greatest regret Madam that I must inform you that your husband’s body has been discovered at the rear exit of the hotel. I am afraid it appears not to be accident or any other mishap. He has been murdered.Breakfast at 8 am. Victoria, Larry and Laura-Anne met in the dinning room for the first serving two minutes before the hour. James, according to Laura-Anne, had gone off early as usual, “Probably to see that young woman.” She suffered.“Well we can get started and I am sure he will show before breakfast is done.” Larry replied not quite catching Laura-Anne’s implication. Then the light went on. “What woman?”“We don’t know the answer to that dear. At least not clearly. It could all be very innocent.” Victoria replied then went on to explain the details. When she was done Larry frowned but kept his thoughts to himself.Their breakfast was just arriving when a hotel porter entered the dinning room followed by a man in a gray business suit accompanied by two uniformed police officers. They came straight to the table,“This is Inspector Papadopoulos. He wishes to speak to you.” He announce not pointing out any one in particular at the table.Larry Foley stood from his chair and inquired. “Good morning Inspector. Is there a problem?” He plied his knowledge of Greek…..The police officer stretched his lips into mirthful grin and responded.“Indeed Sir!, The Inspector spoke in English….nearly perfect. “Do you know a man named James Breckenford?” he inquire.“Yes we do.” Larry was answering but before he could go on Laura-Anne got to her feet quickly and explained. “That’s my husband.”A practiced, sad expression came across the Inspector's brow. “Please have a seat Madam.” He instructed gently.Laura-Anne reclaimed her chair but kept an anxious stare fixed on the Inspector.“It is with greatest regret Madam that I must inform you that your husband’s body has been discovered at the rear exit of the hotel. I am afraid it appears not to be accident or any other mishap. He has been murdered.

Everything I have told you is true. The man was a monster…a wretched beast who needed killing. I saw what he did. I saw….damn…..you have to listen to me. He…it….needed killing“You don’t get it. Do you? That puny little muscle between your ears is too chucked full of standard procedure to even come close to an idea that does not fit into one of your concrete scenarios with solid, verifiable evidence. But it is true. Everything I have told you is true. The man was a monster…a wretched beast who needed killing. I saw what he did. I saw….damn…..you have to listen to me. He…it….needed killing and someone, someone like me had to do it because you fools had him dead to-rights. But what happened. You let him go because you didn’t have enough frikken evidence. How stupid can you people be.

“Yes….Maybe I will dare.” Timothy cheered. “And I dare you Mr. Cavalier…if you have the courage?”“Sometimes Mr. Mundanie…..What looks like courage is stupidity. However…if you chose to be stupid then I must follow and try to keep you from something totally disastrous.”“Yes….Maybe I will dare.” Timothy cheered. “And I dare you Mr. Cavalier…if you have the courage?”“Sometimes Mr. Mundanie…..What looks like courage is stupidity. However…if you chose to be stupid then I must follow and try to keep you from something totally disastrous.”The midnight trumpets sounded and suddenly the streets were abandoned and silent…..almost silent."So." Timothy said with a hint of challenge in his tone. "What should I be watching for?' He asked and was answered but not by Eifion."A human....and a Cavalier. How unusual is that?"The voice came from above.....along the eaves of a grand old manor.

It had been ages…well…years since Eddy Tall had visited his cottage on Lake Of Mists…Too long in fact…Not since Sarah died.It had been ages…well…years since Eddy Tall had visited his cottage on Lake Of Mists…Too long in fact…Not since Sarah died…oh some six or so years earlier. When Eddy awoke from a night’s sleep that morning he decided the time was perfect to drive up to the cottage once more. Maybe he would get a sense of his beloved wife there because the cottage was where they were the most happy during their 55 years as Mr. and Mrs. Tall. It had been their hide-away from the world of business, family and a crowd of friends that were more interested in…well…That didn’t matter anymore. Eddy had locked all that out when none of those friends took the time to see Sarah off into the nether reaches of the afterlife….where-ever that was.

A gentle mist curled in from Vancouver Harbour enveloping the harbour front and rail yard. Building, it drifted mystically over Crab Park, across West Waterfront Rd. and finally enveloping the quiet by-ways, alley-ways and streets of Gastown.On this evening Reverend Riddell had gone but a short distance from the door of his apartment building on Powell Street. He was about to step into a café when he felt a tug on the right sleeve of his blue pea jacket. When he looked he was met with a pair of wet, rummy eyes filled with such an anguish he could barely contain the rasp of horror threatening to burst past his lips. Instead he simply breathed out, “Thadeus!”“Come with me now. I’ll buy you a meal and you can tell me…..” The Reverend was offering.“No…No.No You must come with me now. I have discovered something terrible.” Thadeus argued and tugged insistently on the Reverends coat sleeve.Reverend Riddell was reluctant. With Thadeus, something terrible could mean something he perceived in his mind. But as he searched the old drunkards eyes there was something in their depths that warned him that Thadeus had seen something far more viable that a twist of his imagination.“Very well. Where must we go.” He asked.“Follow me Rev. Its this way.” Thadeus urged with an almost sober tone.With only slight staggers and shuffling the Gastown Beggar lead the Reverend back to the green dumpster in Trounce Alley. ““Ugh. Blood Alley.” Riddell groaned.

….Then the lights went black and there was instant chaos! Ten Thousand witnesses cried out in horror10,000,000 witnesses watched the resurrection of one of the world’s greatest blues bands.The music cried and wailed like a thousand tortured demons.When Syd little, the bands lead singer came on stage there was pandemonium. And when her voice raged through the speakers it blended in perfect harmony with the music turning tortured demons to soaring angels.And so the concert of a life time began…….Then the lights went black and there was instant chaos!

Lexa doesn't know what way to turn. She only wants one thing, but will she sell her soul to evil to get it? This is a short story set in the Phoenix Rising world. Check it out before Phoenix Rising release April First.It had been ages…well…years since Eddy Tall had visited his cottage on Lake Of Mists…Too long in fact…Not since Sarah died…oh some six or so years earlier. When Eddy awoke from a night’s sleep that morning he decided the time was perfect to drive up to the cottage once more. Maybe he would get a sense of his beloved wife there because the cottage was where they were the most happy during their 55 years as Mr. and Mrs. Tall. It had been their hide-away from the world of business, family and a crowd of friends that were more interested in…well…That didn’t matter anymore. Eddy had locked all that out when none of those friends took the time to see Sarah off into the nether reaches of the afterlife….where-ever that was.