Deadly Candy “The Mafia and the Mechanic”

By W.J. Walker

When Paxton Kelly spots a tall, blonde woman at a public event, her face rings a bell. This mysterious person has the face of an angel, but the cold, cruel eyes of a demon—evil just seems to exude from them.
Paxton racks her brain to figure out where she’s seen this woman. On impulse, she swings up her camera and snaps a picture.
Her curiosity leads to a deadly, life-changing confrontation. Paxton awakens in the hospital to learn that she’s been shot in the head by a mysterious assailant.
Soon, she’s under the protection of two FBI agents, who inform her that she’s been the target of a mafia hit.
Now, plagued by memory problems stemming from the bullet wound, Paxton struggles to piece together the details of her life.
At the same time, she tries to help the FBI agents piece together the mystery. Why does the mafia want her dead? What does she know, or what did she witness, that has made them so eager to snuff out her life?
In the midst of all the action, Paxton discovers that she is developing feelings for R.J. McDonald, the handsome FBI agent assigned to protect her. Both of them are suffering heartaches from tragic losses. Will Paxton and R.J. set aside their fears and take another chance on love?
R.J. informs her that the person bent on taking her life is Candy Valenachia, hit woman for a notorious mafia crime family. R.J. has already lost a loved one to Deadly Candy’s bullets, and he’s determined to take her out—one way or another—before this hit woman can harm anyone else.
Soon they must flee the hospital for Paxton’s safety—but where can they go? Everywhere they turn, it seems, the Valenachia family is right on their heels.
Who is feeding the mafia confidential information that only the FBI should know? And will Paxton’s resourcefulness and R.J.’s years of experience be any match for Deadly Candy’s cold, unfeeling determination to finish the assassination job she started?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC
• Release date: Dec 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781621831860

W.J. Walker

W.J. Walker is a retired nurse who lives in Michigan with her husband of 41 years and their yellow lab, Lucy, and tabby cat, Rusty. She likes to cook and go on hikes with her husband. She enjoys taking scenic landscape pictures and matting and framing them, and enjoys making candles. Sage/Citrus is her favorite scent.She met her husband, Larry, after graduating high school and married him 6 months later. He has been her best friend, confidant, and love of her life all these years. They have two sons who are married and have two grandchildren.After graduating high school she worked to put her husband through college. After starting their family, she went back to school and earned her Registered Nurse certification.Over the years, she has worked as an R.N. in emergency departments in Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Michigan. She later returned to school and obtained a Masters of Science in Nursing. Her devotion to healthcare has also carried down to her sons who are both professionals in the health care field.W.J. has had the privilege of working with many people and patients over the years and loves the diversity those people have brought to her life.After retiring, she began her writing career. The first novel that she wrote involves the FBI, because she originally wanted to join the FBI when she graduated from high school, but she also wanted to be a nurse. The love and devotion to people and their health won out.Writing is important to W.J. because she believes stories provide new experiences and bring knowledge and excitement into people’s lives. Additionally those stories can bring the comfort of thinking about family, community, and what’s important in life. She believes that good stories should inspire people to read and enjoy their quiet time. Having a good novel can be relaxing, reduce stress, and be just down right fun.W.J. is currently working on her second novel.

Book preview

Deadly Candy

The Mafia and the Mechanic

W.J. Walker

and

Lee Walker

Published

by

Brighton Publishing LLC

435 N. Harris Drive

Mesa, Arizona 85203

BrightonPublishing.com

Copyright © 2013

ISBN 13: 978-1-62183-186-0

eBook

Smashwords Edition

Cover Design: Tom Rodriguez

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book are fictitious and the creation of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Chapter One

Paxton heard someone call her name. She turned to see who was speaking to her, and then she felt a sting on the side of her head.

She wasn’t sure what had happened. She felt strange… a little stunned.

A woman was standing on the other side of the car, next to where she’d parked.

Paxton immediately recognized her. It was those cruel, dark-brown eyes that she recognized first. Those eyes were the eyes that belonged to the mysterious, beautiful, blonde woman.

Paxton saw the gun in the woman’s hand, pointing right at her, and wondered, Have I been shot? Did she shoot me?

She didn’t feel any pain—she just felt odd… and a little dazed.

She stood speechless and motionless. It seemed like her body was paralyzed.

I must have been shot, she concluded. Why else would I feel this way?

But where have I been shot? I don’t have any pain.

She glanced down at her body and didn’t see any blood.

Paxton looked back at the woman. There was something odd about her demeanor. She had a slight, upward turn of her mouth, as if she was smiling, but those cruel eyes were staring right through her… cold eyes, with no feeling.

Paxton thought she could see right behind that glazed look. There seemed to be a dark, bottomless depth to them.

A shiver ran through her body and she began feeling weak. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.

She kept staring at the cruel-faced woman, fixated on her evil eyes.

She then realized something else—the woman was a killer.

But why would this person want to kill me? Paxton thought.

What have I done that would make someone want to do me harm?

Her body began to tremble and she swayed to the right. The woman with the gun just watched, as if waiting to see her prey fall.

Paxton tried to lift her arm to steady herself, but she felt paralyzed and weak. She couldn’t comprehend where she’d been shot; couldn’t believe this was happening to her.

Fear gripped Paxton as she watched the beautiful, cruel woman training the pistol at her, apparently gloating over her victim’s demise.

She knew in her current condition, she wouldn’t be able to defend herself. It was difficult for her to move; she wasn’t even able to think logically. Her brain didn’t seem to be processing things. Her vision began to blur.

Paxton’s world seemed like it was spinning out of control. She felt nauseated. Her knees buckled under her. As she fell, she attempted to reach out to break her fall, but her hand couldn’t grasp anything.

She landed hard against the parking lot pavement. The hard impact jarred her body as she landed face-down. The air gushed out of her lungs. She gasped in an effort to take a breath.

She felt severe pain in her cheek from where her face had hit the hard surface. She was sure she must have broken some facial bones. She heard herself moan, but she lay there, unable to do anything to help herself.

Then she heard footsteps, and knew it was the woman coming to make sure she’d been successful in her kill.

Paxton closed her eyes and held her breath, pretending to be dead. She hoped her attacker would only take a quick look and leave. She didn’t have the ability to fight, and she knew she’d be unable to hold her breath for very long.

Why is this happening to me? she kept asking herself.

The footsteps stopped next to her head. Paxton felt a tug on her arm as the assassin pulled the camera strap off of it.

After a few seconds, she heard the woman walking away.

When the sounds of the woman’s steps faded away, Paxton opened her eyes and slowly released the breath she’d been holding. She knew she was dying, and wondered how long it would take for her body to succumb to its fate.

As she lay on the pavement, waiting for death to take her, she noticed an ant carrying a crumb of food on its back. Even though her eyes felt heavy, she was intrigued by his tenacity as he carried the heavy load. She noticed other ants as they ran to him and tried to take his morsel of food, but he persevered as he fought them off.

She half-smiled as she watched them battle. A real warrior, she thought.

Her eyes closed and she thought, I guess it’s time for me to meet God. She patiently waited, but nothing happened.

She detected a copper-like smell. When she opened her eyes, she saw blood on the pavement in front of her face, and knew it was her own. She still didn’t know where she’d been shot, or why she was targeted; she wasn’t aware of having any enemies. She was just a nurse—someone who spent her days trying to help people.

It was midsummer, and the sun was beating down on her as she lay, waiting to die, but her body felt cold. She was lying in the hospital parking lot, and help was so close by, but she figured no one was even aware that she was there.

Things like this just don’t happen in this neighborhood.

Her lips felt dry. She tried to moisten them with her tongue, but she didn’t have enough saliva to the job. She listened to the birds singing their cheerful melodies, but her hearing began fading away.

The coldness she felt was ethereal. She didn’t want to give up, because she was a fighter, but she realized the odds were against her.

Her only hope was that someone would see her. Surely someone saw it happen… or did the blonde woman eliminate any witnesses?

She attempted to take another breath, and noticed her vision changing. She saw black spots, and everything went dark.

***

Paxton could hear noises. When she opened her eyes, the lights were so bright that they hurt her eyes. She squinted as she watched them moving over her.

Everything seemed foggy as she tried to comprehend what was going on. She didn’t know where she was. She tried to remember what had happened to her, but she had no recollection.

What happened to me? Where am I? Am I dead? she wondered.

She was confused and tried to talk, but only a whisper came out of her mouth. She felt the breeze on her face as she watched the lights pass over her. She closed her eyes because the lights were so bright.

She racked her brain as she tried to figure out what had happened to her, but she couldn’t remember anything.

Then she heard a voice. When she turned her head and looked to her side, she saw a woman.

Paxton wondered if she’d died and was passing through time. Is this the long tunnel that people have described when they have had a near-death event? she wondered. Are these the bright lights?

But the lights weren’t at the end of the tunnel. They were above her, and moving fast. She looked back at the woman, who was also moving fast, and seemed to be in a hurry.

She looked to her other side, and saw a man. He seemed to be moving as fast as the woman.

She wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth, it felt so dry. She tried to lick her lips, but her tongue also seemed to be dry. She finally forced out a mere whisper, Where am I?

Neither of them looked at her. As she watched the woman, she could see the strands of her long hair moving as she ran. Paxton could feel that same breeze brushing her own face. She looked at the man, then back at the woman, and wondered, Why are they running?

She again focused on the lights overhead as they kept rushing over her. She had to close her eyes, because it was making her dizzy.

She didn’t understand what was happening, and she felt she didn’t have the energy to stop it. Her world had changed, and she didn’t know why. Everyone was in a hurry, and she didn’t have the same feeling of urgency. She just wanted to close her eyes and let it stop.

She felt a jolt. She opened her eyes and heard the woman say, Sorry, my hip hit the cart of water pitchers.

Paxton didn’t understand what she was talking about, except when she heard the word water.

She asked, Can I have a drink?

The man answered, Not right now. We need to do some tests first.

The feeling of fear began building inside her, and tears began flowing down the sides of her face. She didn’t know what was happening. Now that the man had mentioned tests, she wondered whether she’d been captured by aliens. Am I on their spaceship? she wondered. Are they going to be studying humans? Nothing made sense.

She looked at the man, who seemed to be in a hurry to get those tests done on her. She whispered to him, What’s happening to me?

He didn’t look at her, and she became more concerned. Her fear had reached the level of panic and she raised her arms and began swinging them at the man and woman. Where am I? she cried.

They stopped running and the woman tried to calm her, but Paxton connected her fist to the woman’s chin. Get away from me! she screamed.

The man grabbed Paxton’s wrists. He held them firmly as he said, You need to calm down. We’re not trying to hurt you; we need to get a CT scan.

She relaxed her arms as she stared at him. Where am I, and who are these people? she wondered again.

She felt she was in a time warp, or maybe on an alien ship, where the people weren’t really people, but androids—emotionless robots.

She couldn’t quit focusing on the lights above her, because there were so many of them.

The androids beside her began running again, but when she looked down at her own body, she wasn’t running. She seemed to by lying flat and not moving, but she was traveling as fast as they were. There seemed to be some sort of emergency. Where were the androids taking her? She could hear them talking, but she was having a difficult time comprehending.

Then she heard someone say, Paxton.

Who’s this Paxton? she wondered.

She looked at the male android who’d spoken to her. Paxton, hang in there, he said. You’re going to be okay.

Why did he call me Paxton? she wondered.

They’d taken her into some sort of room, but everything was spinning out of control. She tried to rise up, but someone gently pushed her back down and said, Paxton, don’t try to sit up—you’ve been hurt, and we need you to lie flat.

She looked at the android who was touching her shoulder and telling her to lie flat. What does he mean, I’ve been hurt? Why can’t I remember anything? Why can’t I remember my own name? Could it be Paxton?

She heard a slight chuckle escape from her mouth as she thought, Who would name a child Paxton?

Her head began hurting after her attempt to get up, and the dizziness worsened. She continued staring at the lights above her.

The male android spoke. Paxton, we need to get a CT scan of your head.

He’d told her that before. What’s a CT scan? she wondered.

The androids moved her onto another surface. Now she was lying on something hard and very cold. She was freezing, and felt her body shivering out of control. Her teeth were chattering.

The woman android placed a warm blanket, over her, but she continued shivering. She kept thinking, I have to be dead… nothing makes sense. But if I’m dead, why are all these androids around me?

She’d always thought that when a person died, they floated up toward the ceiling and were able to look down and see all the people working around their dead body. That was what people who’d experienced a near-death event had said.

Why can I remember that bit of information, but not what happened to me? she wondered. She needed some answers.

They placed things next to her head, and she could hear them talking to her, but she didn’t understand what they were doing to her. She was pushed into a tunnel. She could see walls overhead and down both sides.

They kept babbling to her, but she couldn’t focus on what they were saying. She was mesmerized by the walls surrounding her, suffocatingly close.

She began feeling hot and nauseated. The bile began rising up into her throat.

She took several deep breaths to calm her stomach. She was having difficulty moving, because she was strapped down.

Are they doing experiments on me? she kept thinking. Are they aliens studying my body? Are they going to insert probes? They have to let me move... I need to sit up.

She heard one of the androids say, No, Paxton, you need to hold still. This will only take a minute.

She could feel the panic increasing. She kept thinking about what they said. What type of injury did they say I had? Why can’t I remember anything’?

She kept looking at her surroundings. Even if she got the straps loose that tied her down, there was no way she could sit up as long as she was inside the tunnel.

Who are these people, and what are they trying to do to me? she fretted.

As the anxiety increased, her nausea worsened. Again, the bile came up in her throat.

She knew she was going to vomit, but she couldn’t turn her head because they had it strapped down. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her stomach, but it didn’t help.

She frantically tried to get her arms free. Her stomach felt so queasy and she was retching uncontrollably. She knew she was going to start spewing any minute.

Someone said, She’s going to vomit—get her out of there.

She felt herself moving again. As she came out of the tunnel, a cool blast of air washed over her. The androids quickly turned her on her side and she heaved like a volcanic eruption.

Afterward, she felt a little better. As she stared down at the floor, she saw the male android’s shoes covered with her vomit. She could feel another half-chuckle escape when she saw the mess she’d made. She felt like a limp rag doll, and she stared down at the floor.

When they turned her onto her back, the room began spinning out of control. She closed her eyes, but even in the darkness behind her eyelids, she still saw a spinning motion.

She felt like she was on a merry-go-round, with her body in the center and everything revolving around her. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Her hearing was muffled, and her body felt cool and clammy.

One of the androids said something to her, but she didn’t understand what was said. As she looked at them, she began seeing black spots. The spots grew and expanded, growing together and closing in around her, until there was total darkness.

Chapter Two

Candace Valenachia stepped on the gas and drove out of the hospital parking lot. She reached into her console and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lighter. After taking a long draw on the cigarette and blowing out the smoke, she grinned and said, Whoa, what a rush!

She always had that feeling after doing a hit. The adrenalin was rushing through her veins, and she had such a euphoric feeling.

As she thought about Miss Goody Two-Shoes, she pondered, How could she recognize me after five years? She only took care of me for one night, but when she looked at me, I could tell she recognized me.

She looked over at the camera, lying in the passenger seat, and smiled. That memory card has to go… no one can know this new face. Giovanni went to a lot of trouble to get me this new face.

She placed the cigarette back between her lips and sucked in the smoke. She reached over and cranked up her radio until it was blasting from the front and back speakers.

As she drove back to her house, she smiled and said, One more tonight… in New Jersey.

Eight hours earlier

The day had started out like any other day. Paxton woke up early and ate breakfast. After she finished her cup of coffee, she grabbed her camera and purse and jumped into her new Ingot Silver Edge Sport and headed out to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to attend the grand opening ceremony at the new savings and loan.

She loved her new car. She’d saved for two years and had done Internet research on various vehicles. This car had very good safety ratings and gas efficiency. So, when her old clunker died, she knew exactly what she wanted to buy.

She’d recently gotten a promotion at work, to a position as liaison for the hospital. She loved every aspect of her job. As liaison, she spent most of her time out in the community, meeting the public. She attended numerous social events, talking with those who attended and volunteering as their photographer.

As a representative of the hospital, she passed out pamphlets with health information regarding preventive care and safety tips. The brochures also listed services the hospital had to offer and named all the specialists who were on staff. In the current market, hospitals were competing with each other, and the one thing that enabled them to survive was for them to get an edge on the other hospitals. Paxton’s involvement in the community allowed the public to see that their hospital offered good education, good physicians, quality care, and a personal concern for the