Re-Runners Second Life: Re-Runners, #2

By Elli Buchanan

Three people from different parts of the world share one thing. They died and now they're re-born, only its 25 years earlier. They retain all the memories of their previous life, yet they get to start again in young and healthy bodies.

But Kate's joy at having a second chance is short lived when she realizes the most deadly murderer of her generation has also been born again and she knows what he will do and when he will do it.
'Are there others out there like me? Please God, don't let him be the only one.'

Kate's search for other Re-Runners leads her to Dylan and together they hunt the serial killer. Their pursuit takes them from Australia, to the US and then to Italy where help is at hand.

Their story is too incredible. Who will believe them?
Together they must stop the murderer and discover why they've been given a second chance at life.

Interview with the Author

Q - So, what makes the Re-Runners Series special?
A - They say that in the world of stories, there are no NEW ideas and maybe that's true. But I don't think there's been a series of books on this subject, done quite like this before.

I'm sure plenty of people have thought - 'If I knew what I know now and could go back and do it all over again - Wow, the things I could achieve. Righting wrongs, avoiding the mistakes of your 'first life'... So many possibilities.'

Q - It's an interesting concept, but what genre does the Re-Runner series come under?

A - That's a difficult one. It's a mix of the kind of books I like to read, and I like to read everything. First up it's a paranormal time travel book, in the sense that initially the story chronicles the lives of three people, their death and their rebirth. There's also the element of thriller horror with the grisly murders committed by the serial killer, suspense when the FBI and LA detectives are tracking the infamous murderer and of course the mystery of how and why this re-living of lives has happened to them.

These three people from different countries (Australia and the US... and later Italy) are thrown into repeating their lives, but retaining all of the knowledge of their previous existences; maybe for all eternity. Who knows?

What would you do if it happened to you? Would you change? Create a new life or keep the old one? Make different choices or stay the same? Leave a legacy for the human race? It poses some interesting questions.

Q - You've got every other genre in there, but you've forgotten the Romance junkies. What? No love story?

A - Hey, of course there's a love story. It builds slowly and comes in Book 2 – Re-Runners Second Life. What's a novel (or series of novellas) without a love story? Life is all about love/hate, life/death, mistakes made/lessons learned. We're human, so of course there's a love story. Need you ask?

Q - So, why should readers give these books a try?
A - Because Re-Runners is a little dark and a little science fiction but it also takes you on a ride of possibilities. You'll find yourself imagining re-living your life. Maybe you wouldn't be tracking down serial killers, but it certainly makes you think.

Ultimately, readers who enjoy a plot that twists and turns all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series. Thanks for reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elli Buchanan
• Release date: Dec 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781502251411

Elli Buchanan

The ideas for several stories came about when my man and I were 'floating around on a boat' in the Mediterranean for 16 months. Plenty of time for the creative juices to flow and undoubtedly the experience of a lifetime, but before any of these ideas became fully fledged books; we returned to Australia and the 'real world' of jobs and in my case, opening a small business. Nearly 5 years later, the business sold (loved, but its time had passed) and now time to write again. 

Book preview

Re-Runners

Second Life

By

Elli Buchanan

Re-Runners – Second Life

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Elli Buchanan

PUBLISHED BY:

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Copyright © 2014

Revised 2015

www.booksbyellibuchanan.com

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All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

Books by Elli Buchanan

Romance Novella

Love me, Love My Sister

Re-Runners Series

Re-Runners – First Life

Re-Runners – Second Life

Re-Runners – Third Life

Part 1

Re-Runners – Third Life

Part 2

Click here to view Re-Runners VIDEO BOOK TRAILER

Or www.booksbyellibuchanan.com/rerunners-video.html

––––––––

The Sky Kingdom Short Story Series

(Co-authored with Sierra Mullins)

Paranormal Shifter Romance

Forbidden Mortal

Story 1

Hawk’s Desire

Story 2

Where Loyalty Lies

Story 3

Final Flight

Story 4

The Sky Kingdom Box Set

Short Story

Paranormal Romance

The Cursed Arrow

CONTENTS

Dylan-Age 20

Kate-Age 18

Christian-Age 26

Kate - 1984

Dylan

Le Segador - 1985

Detectives Brodie & Rogers

Uncover a Re-Runner

Christian - 1986

Dylan - 1986

Kate - 1986

Kate & Dylan Meet

LAPD - 1986

Australia to LA

Stefano Puglisi

Meeting Pat and Ian

Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Brodie & Rogers

Christian meets Juliette Dupree

Stefano

Italy

Three Re-Runners

Christian - Rome

Kate, Dylan, Stefano

Hunting Stefano

No Murders in Sight

Home for the Holidays

Jealousy

Marchioni Family

Stefano & Christian

LADP - Christmas

Battista

LAPD

Christian

The Truth is Out

Sally Arrives in Rome

Beverly Wiltshire Hotel

Happy Again

Kate, Dylan and Brodie

Christian & Sally

It’s Over

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‘Hindsight provides new eyes.’

Wayne W Dyer - You'll See It When You Believe It

Chapter 1

Dylan-Age 20

1982

Sydney, Australia

Soft spring sun warmed Dylan’s back as he sat on the rear deck of his parent’s home intently studying the horse racing form in the newspaper.

‘Never before do you show such interest in the race guide.’ His grandfather joined Dylan at the table with his small espresso.

‘Well, it’s not long now till the Melbourne Cup.’

His nonno chuckled, ‘I know my grandsons come with me to Melbourne for the parties and good times and not only for the ‘orse racing.’ He shrugged. ‘But that is va bene, OK. Your company, it brings me ‘appiness.’

‘And we enjoy your company Nonno.’ Dylan squeezed Leo Snr’s arm. ‘But I think I would enjoy our annual pilgrimage better, if I knew more about the horses.’ He pointed to a name on the sheet. ‘This one for instance. Gurner’s Lane. The name is familiar.’

Leo nodded. ‘Si, una possibilità - a chance. ‘e ‘as been racing well.’

Dylan had been testing his memory with early stock market movements and had done OK, turning the money his parents had loaned him to buy a car into a nice nest egg. But now he wanted to make a significant amount quickly and gambling was the only way he could see his way to doing that. I wish I’d taken more notice of race winners when I had the chance.

Every year since he was sixteen, he and his brother David had accompanied their grandfather to the Melbourne Cup. It was the highlight of their year. The Melbourne Cup was indeed the horse race that stopped a nation. Many Australian workers finished the day at lunchtime to prepare for an afternoon of partying.

Offices closed their doors and restaurants with large TV’s were filled to capacity, as everyone everywhere tuned into the race. But the atmosphere of Flemington Race Course itself was unsurpassed. The pageantry, the noise, the celebrities and the fashion.  Even the car park was a riot of color with picnic blankets spread, top hats and high heels off and champagne flowing.

His brother David had always shown more of an interest in the horses, but a few notable winners were etched in Dylan’s mind. He was willing to bet his nest egg that 1982 was when Gurner’s Lane won that rare double; the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the same year. The horse was one of only a handful that ever managed it in the history of Australian racing.

Over the next several years there had been more, such as the 15/1 payout for What A Nuisance in 1985. He remembered it because it was his first glimpse of Diana, Princess of Wales. She and Charles were visiting Australia and Dylan was intrigued by the evolving beauty of the once shy Lady Di. Now he knew of the generous and beautiful woman she was to become; beloved by the whole world and a life ended too soon, he was even more eager to see her again.

He also remembered the future wins of Empire Rose and the great Kingston Rule in ’88 and ’90; but it was in the stock market Dylan would create his fortune. The IT mega-millionaires of the future were still young men and students. He may be too late to get in on the start of Microsoft, although he intended investing heavily when Gates launched Microsoft’s initial public offering in 1986. Microsoft stocks ‘high water mark’ wouldn’t hit until December 1999, when he knew - if he was still here - he would make tens of millions of dollars, but that was just a part of it. Dylan also knew of the coming of Google, Yahoo, Facebook ... all of it ... before anyone else, even their creators. The thought was mind boggling.

Dylan stretched back in the deck chair and let the sun shine on his face ... The world really is my oyster.

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Chapter 2

Kate-Age 18

1983

Brisbane, Australia

‘But darling, why do you want to fast-track your studies and more importantly, why do you want to move to the college when home is so close?’ Kate’s mother looked at her with a mixture of concern and confusion.

Several months within the loving embrace of her family had healed Kate and given her time to think about her future. It had also shown her she couldn’t live at home anymore. To her parents she was their eighteen year old daughter, but in Kate’s head she was a woman the same age as her mother and with a world of adult experiences. She couldn’t grow and do what she needed to do, in the guise of a teenager.

Her father had remained silent throughout as Kate outlined her plans for her future university years, but now he spoke, ‘Now love, let’s hear Katie out. She has proved she is academically able to take on the extra semester.’

He looked to Kate and added with a smile, ‘Your high school results were outstanding. I think what concerns your mother is that you are young and working hard for what you want is all well and good, but you need time to have a bit of fun.’

Kate leaned forward and grasped their hands. ‘I know you are worried, but I promise I will take time out. Being in the college will make it easier to socialize, but also easier to study.’

Kate didn’t plan on doing much socializing, but she needed to reassure her parents. A science degree was in the bag, she knew it all and more. She’d already applied for the Mentoring Program which meant extra time with the university professors and only available to a small number of exceptional students. She’d been offered a placement in her last life, so she knew this would be no different, except this time she would push to complete her degree in the fastest possible time and then do her Honors year in Psychology. She wanted answers and the tools to understand herself and why she had surrendered to Eric’s control, but she also wanted to get on with her life.

‘The student loan will cover my tuition and I’ll get a job to pay for my accommodation,’ Kate told her parents.

Her father answered, ‘If you plan on working as hard as you say Katie, you won’t have time for a job. We will look after your accommodation and HECS can look after your tuition.’

A happy smile lit up Kate’s face as she stood and wrapped her arms around her mom and dad. ‘Thank you, thank you. I can do this. I’ll make you proud.’

‘We’ve always been proud of you Katie. We just want you to be happy.’ Her father’s voice was rough with emotion.

Her mother sniffed. ‘Will you visit on the weekends? Sunday lunch?’

‘Of course.’ Kate gave her another hug.

ooooo

University entry went as smoothly as Kate had expected and best of all, Melanie and she would be living in the same college house.

The next few weeks were a flurry of orientation tours, sporting events and the famous toga parties. Every faculty did their own thing, but the joint events held by the Student Council were the highlights. Kate dragged Mel along to each one of them. She was determined to build a lifetime of wonderful memories. She knew better than all the young people she now mixed with, that life was unpredictable, life was short and life could be filled with crippling regrets.

The one thing she didn’t know was why she was here and how long she had in this new life. The other thing that disturbed her nights was dreams of Mia. They seemed so real. She could feel the weight of her baby in her arms, then wake and find only emptiness and then the tears would start. She missed her beloved daughter every day and it was a hurt she buried deep. She knew in this world Mia would never exist and that was both good and bad. She also knew she would never have another child. The uncertainty of her situation wouldn’t allow it. The only thought that kept her going was the belief that in some other parallel world, Mia was growing up happily in the arms of her sister.

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Chapter 3

Christian-Age 26

1984

Los Angeles, USA

Money had never been an issue for Christian. Before he had planned and invested well from the proceeds of his parent’s legacy, but now he also had the advantage of hindsight and he intended using it. In the last two years his personal wealth had grown exponentially and he now held the bulk of it in several off-shore accounts with fictitious names. He had constructed a maze of shelf companies and with his advanced computer knowledge, he covered his tracks well.

The how and when of his previous demise was still a mystery, but at least by being more adept in the area of his finances, he felt he was securing another backdoor to his identity.

The shrill ring of the phone cut through the rendition of Christian’s favorite piece; Winter from 4 Seasons by Vivaldi. As one hand slid the volume control down, the other picked up the phone.

‘Good morning Sally,’ he said softly before she had a chance to identify herself. Christian knew who the caller would be. He’d left a message for her, but she was also the only person who knew his number.

A fleeting thought touched the edge of Christian’s consciousness. Sally? Could she be