Thaloc Has a Body: The Brodie Wade Series, #2

By Jerry Hanel

A PARANORMAL THRILLER -- Book Two of the Brodie Wade Series

The Truth returns to torment Psychic Detective Brodie Wade, and he is caught off-guard with three bizarre statements from the most unusual of sources.

The Truth warns him - in its usual cryptic fashion - of his own death: in three days he will be married, then he dies. Detective Phil Dawson brings Brodie a set of three impossible cases. And Officer Jamie Stanford blindsides Brodie with a date... the first in his life. At every turn, The Truth seems intent on derailing everything, rambling about the existence of a creature named Thaloc. Can he solve the riddles before his own clock runs out?

"THALOC HAS A BODY is a gripping read. I didn't want to put the book down. Jerry paints the characters perfectly, I felt very connected with them. There was a perfect amount of mystery and humor to keep me reading well into the night." 

- Victorine Lieske, NY Times Best-Selling Author of NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS and THE OVERTAKING

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jerry Hanel
• Release date: Feb 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507077245

Jerry Hanel

Jerry Hanel is the author of such wild lovable characters as Brodie Wade and Harrison Kass. He is a member of Oklahoma Writer's Federation and Crossroads Writer's Group. While he enjoys throwing his poor heroes into chaos, he loves seeing how they can fight back and find redemption and grace. Find out more about Jerry at his website, and sign up for his newsletter for more information, freebies and discounts.

Book preview

In loving memory of

John Morgan

1965 - 2011

You were a friend to so many. Your kindness will never be forgotten, and your fingerprints on our souls will never fade.

Chapter 1

JULY 15, 1991, EGYPT

The heat rose in waves off of the sands despite the plummeting temperatures. Twenty-five miles southwest of Edfou, Egypt, the usually barren desert buzzed with activity. As the sun sat on the horizon, the air was heavy with the sounds of laborers. They hauled five-gallon buckets of sand and dirt up a ramp to be sifted for new finds.

Bill Tanner stood under a tarp stretched across four poles to escape the heat beating down on them. The sun earlier in the day had made the air miserably hot. But as it approached the horizon, the air had cooled considerably. His sweaty shirt was cold as the wind blew it against his back. Within the hour, he'd have to pull his coat out of his tent. That was one of the things he would never get used to in the desert. Hot one minute, cold the next.

He worked at his station with several small artifacts, but kept an eye on each of his partners. The four of them feverishly worked to log the many artifacts from the Bastet Temple dig. Their time at this site was controlled by the government, and it was almost up. Bill was supposed to be cataloging the items he'd chosen, but the one that they left in the lower level called to him, distracting him from his work.

The one most interesting—a small box made of reeds about the size of a boot box—seemed to have the strongest pull. The provenance of such an unusual piece being at this location held so many mysteries. After all, why would a box dedicated to such a vile creature be stored in the sacred relics chamber of this temple? The mystery that surrounded that little reed box was driving him mad, but they'd all promised to leave it down there until the Bastet and Ra findings were cataloged and noted. Then, perhaps, the answers as to its existence would make more sense. At least this way it wouldn't end up mixed in with the other unusual items.

Bill waited until all four of his research partners were busy, then slipped down the excavated tunnel. His heart raced as he passed the workers. They gathered their supplies, ending their work for the day. Soon, everyone would be out of the dig, and he would be alone to study the box and the item it held.

He weaved through the maze of tunnels that he'd come to know by heart over the past week. As he made the final turn, the bright flood lights in the room caused everything to cast harsh shadows along the opposite wall. Far along that wall, a round wicker basket held the object of his desire.

Removing the lid with care so he wouldn't damage the fragile structure, Bill peered down at the odd little box. The reeds were pale from the years of aging, and the writing on the top had faded almost completely away. It had taken him the better part of an hour earlier in the day to decipher all of the words that had been inscribed on the surface. The box had not been dedicated to Bastet—as expected—but to Thaloc; a dark demon thought to consume the souls of the living and take their forms.

There you are, a voice called from the doorway.

Bill jumped and spun around. A short, overweight, geeky kid stood in the entrance. Gareth Hornsworth had brought the little snot from university to see his first dig. He was barely eighteen, and nosier than a bloodhound on a scent.

Hello, Brandon. What can I do for you? Bill stood upright, hoping that the kid wouldn't prod further.

Adriana wanted you to translate the tapestry inscription before sunset. You'd better hurry. It's getting dark. He smiled wide and laughed. You aren't here to mess with the box, are you?

Of course not. Bill put on his most convincing smile. I just need to compare the writing on the lid to a different sample.

Brandon eased closer, that stupid grin smeared across his face. Really? So where's the sample? Did you leave it up at your station? With hands raised, he continued, Don't worry. I'm not going to turn you in to Adriana the Hun. I kinda hoped to get a look too.

Bill just wanted the runt to go away. No. I left it down here earlier. Someone must have moved it. He knelt and picked up the fragile lid with two fingers, careful not to exert too much pressure on it. Over time, the wicker had become fragile as paper and sharp as glass. You and I both know that this one is off-limits. Go up and tell her majesty that I'm on my way.

Oh, come on. I haven't had a chance to get a look at it, either. He stepped forward and tried to grab the lid off the basket. This could be the most interesting find of the decade.

Bill shoved him. I said, no. We will process it later.

Brandon gave a wicked smile.  I just wanted to take a peek. Come on, you've been working with it all day.

The extreme heat had worn on Bill throughout the day, and this kid was grating on his last nerve. Stepping forward, he pushed Brandon by the shoulders. These are not toys, boy. You don't just yank them up and toss them around like a yo-yo. They are centuries old, and very fragile. Get that through your thick skull. You get the privilege of being at our dig site because you're a guest. You get to see, but not touch. That was the deal. Now get up there and tell Adriana that I'll be right behind you.

Tell her yourself, jerkwad. Brandon lurched forward, thrusting his elbow into Bill's chest.  They tumbled backward into the basket. Sharp pains ran up Bill's back, shards of ages-old wicker basket pierced, sliced and scraped his back. He shoved with all his strength, throwing the teen backward across the dimly lit room.

Rolling out of the remains of the basket, he looked back at the shattered mess that had been the reed box. It was busted into several pieces, and a small golden object lay in the ruins.

You stupid, brainless maggot! Bill rubbed his hand across his lower back causing stinging sensations. He could feel the moisture of his own blood across his fingers, further fueling his anger. Look what you did! The one artifact that we may have used to prove their beliefs, and—

Brandon stood several feet away, the right side of his face illuminated by a nearby floodlight. His mouth hung open wide, and he appeared to be six shades paler than he had been just a moment ago.

Don't just stand there. Get over here and help me, you idiot.

Brandon didn't move. His eyes remained fixed on Bill as though this was the first time he'd seen a human being. Bill wiped the blood from his hands and reached down to inspect the golden artifact within the bits of shattered reed and wicker. At least this is still intact. Come over h— Bill stopped and stared at his hands. They were fat. He turned them palms-down, inspecting every nuance of every finger. His hands and arms were beginning to swell. Snatching up the artifact, he started to stand, but stumbled backward as though someone had piled a heavy weight on his shoulders and his legs could no longer support him. Collapsing to his knees, he clutched the golden artifact.

Help me, moron! Gareth is the closest thing we've got to a doctor. Even as he spoke, he could feel pressure building in his chest, pressing his lungs and making it difficult to breathe.

He turned to stand again, seeing a dark shadow behind him. It was his shadow, cast from a floodlight pointed directly at him. But it was all wrong. He was several sizes larger, and growing. He spun around and fell face-first in the dust on the floor.

Breathing in wheezes and gulps, he managed to shout, Go! Get help.

Brandon turned and started up the entrance, but didn't get far. Bill watched as some unseen force exploded outward from his general location, like a silent grenade, sending dust and debris flying in all directions and knocking Brandon forward onto his belly.

The walls and floor began to shake and dust rained down on them both from above.

ADRIANA JAMESON STOOD at the edge of the campfire. The sun was just slipping down behind the horizon as she basked in the glow of satisfaction. It had been an incredible day. With some of the finds they had made, each of them would surely be able to write their tickets to almost any faculty job in the states.

She stood near the edge of the campfire, half-heartedly planning how she would decorate her plush professorial office when she returned. Somewhere between the details of the curtains and the size of the receptionist's desk, the ground beneath her rumbled.

Screams and shouts in the distance ripped her back into the present. She looked up to see several of the workers running out of the dig site, followed by great plumes of brown sand shooting up into the darkening sky. All of her thoughts of the future vanished in the fear of the moment. She knew what had just happened; a cave-in. She wrapped the hijab around her face to block the dust and sand and rushed down the short ramp to pull people to safety.

One worker coughed and gagged as she helped him away from the first entrance. She signaled her Egyptian counterpart, Bahren, at the second entrance. He shook his head. It had obviously caved in as well.

Is there anyone else down there? she asked, pointing at the primary excavation tunnel.

The man nodded through a coughing fit. Yes. Yes. Abubakar and Mister Tanner. I see them both.

At the mention of the name Tanner, she darted back, determined to get in there. As she inspected the rubble at the collapsed tunnel, she felt a hand tugging at her arm.

Adri! Any one down there? Gareth Hornsworth's unmistakable British accent cut through the clamor of voices and shovels, but she didn't look back. She dropped to her knees and began moving as much dirt as she could.

One of the workers thought he saw Bill go down there. She grunted as she rolled a large stone to the side, its edges sharp and rough from the recent wreckage. Have you noticed if we are missing anyone else? Where's Evan?

Sent him to town for supplies twenty minutes ago. Budge up a little.

Adriana scooted over to make room as Gareth knelt and started digging at the opening with the only thing he seemed to carry down into the mayhem; a latrine shovel. He grunted as he slammed it into the sand, tossing aside small scoops. I think everyone is accounted for except Bill and Brandon. Haven't seen them for the better part of an hour.

Adriana felt a pang of guilt. She had brushed both of them off earlier in the day. Brandon had asked to see the strange artifact but she had said that she was too busy. And Bill had made a pass at her to find a quiet corner to make out.

While she had no intention of doing anything of the sort with him—even though he did have an amazingly handsome body—she regretted that she had brushed him off so easily. Her final words to him haunted her as she chipped away at another stone. Keep dreaming, she had said with a laugh.

But now she wasn't laughing. She was worried that he may have wandered down the tunnel moments before the collapse. Maybe he didn't go down there. Maybe he stepped away to relieve himself. No... Gareth had their latrine shovel.

Over here! Quickly, quickly! One of the workers shouted. In an instant Adriana found herself running with six men toward the second entrance to the buried temple. Gareth jogged next to her, his hair peeking out from his cap, and his rugged eyes visible just over the cloth he'd wrapped around his head to filter out the dust.

They all congregated at the entrance and began throwing stones and dirt to the side. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she heard the voice on the other side. She couldn't tell who, and she couldn't understand the words, but the intent of the message was very clear. He was screaming for help.

Four hours into the night, the air had dropped to the mid forties. Worn ragged from digging, she and Gareth hadn't stopped moving since the incident and hadn't taken the time to put on their coats. The constant activity and adrenaline had kept them warm as they dug frantically for survivors. They put their entire weight on a board to pry up a huge stone that had once been a part of the ceiling above them. A hand darted out, bloody and covered in dirt and filth.

I'm here! Help me. Get me out of here. The voice called from the other side of the stone.

Brandon? That you, bloke? Gareth shouted, struggling to keep his weight on the board.

The arm retreated and a voice hesitated for quite some time. Just when fear began to creep up on Adriana that they were too late, he replied in sobs and wails. Yes! Yes, it's me. I'm Brandon. Now, get me out of here.

Gareth heaved once more on the lever, bringing the stone another three inches higher. As he held it in place, the workers shoved bricks under the slab to keep it up. After several repetitions of lifting and blocking, they had a hole big enough to pull him through.

The back of his shirt was torn and bloody, and he was covered in enough sand and dirt to fill a small bucket. But he was alive.

As his feet cleared the stone, Adriana pulled him upright and hugged his neck. They helped him climb the ramp back up to the campsite. Helping him across some rubble, Gareth put his hand around his back. Brandon screamed in agony.

What's wrong? Gareth asked, yanking his hand away.

Something slammed me into a wall in the dark. I was almost a dead man.

But you're not. You're alive. Adriana smiled at him as she helped lower him onto the ground a safe distance away.

But look at me. How could I come out looking like this?

You did get a bit pear shaped, didn't you? Gareth chuckled. It's just a few cuts and scrapes and a load of dirt. You'll scrub up fine. Your mother would have flogged me if I'd let you die back there. Promised her I'd get you back to Chicago in one piece.

Brandon looked up at them both and took several big breaths. But... Something's wrong. I'm... I'm not what I am. I am the shadow.

Adriana put her hand on his forehead. His skin was nearly on fire. She glanced at Gareth and shook her head. He's burning up. Might have an infection. We need to cool him down and fast. I think he's going into shock.

Gareth nodded and scrambled to his tent. Lay him down a bit. Elevate his feet.

Tossing her backpack at his legs, Adriana lifted each pudgy limb, placing them on the bag.

Am I going to die? Brandon moaned and closed his eyes.

Adriana knelt next to his head again and tried to wipe the dirt from his face and comfort him. No. No, you're going to be fine. Just relax, okay?

Gareth rushed back a few seconds later with two canteens. He tossed the first to Adriana, then unscrewed the lid to the second, holding it to Brandon's lips. Here you go, mate. Slowly, now. He looked up at her, worry deep in his eyes. We've gotta find the blood loss and plug it.

Adriana removed the hijab from her head, using it as a washcloth. She poured the cool water onto it, then wiped his face and neck. Come on, Brandon. Stay with us. Was there anyone else down there when it caved in?

Brandon looked up at her with glassy eyes. He stared almost through her as he nodded. Bill. I was Bill. I mean, he was... I was... I saw ... ate him... shadow. Brandon's body slumped as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Adriana choked back emotion as she continued to wipe his face and neck with the cloth. It's okay, she said softly as Gareth rolled him onto his side. We'll check on Bill as soon as we can. You just stay with us. Stay with us, Brandon.

Gareth whistled. Blimey. I don't see a bleed. Unless the cuts on his back bled out somewhere in that mess down there, but they're clotted.

Adriana lifted his shoulder and tried to check his body for other signs of bruising or bleeding. It must be internal.

Yeah. Gareth sighed and gently lowered Brandon back down onto the sand. Don't think I'll be able to lift him alone. Go get Bahren to help me toss him in the jeep. Bloke needs medical attention or he's a goner.

Adriana stared toward the tunnel entrance.

Adriana! Seriously. The kid may be bleeding out inside. Get off your bum.

Gareth's shout brought her around and she jumped to her feet. Right. You get Brandon some help. I'll send Bahren up and take his place. Maybe we can get to Bill before sunrise. Maybe he's still alive down there.

Chapter 2

PAIDEN OK, DECEMBER 14, 2010

Paranormal Investigator Brodie Wade eased up to the front steps of the abandoned church building with the Okfuskee County Sheriff's deputy standing several feet back. The cold December air swirled around them as they stared at the old Baptist church. The rotting structure leaned to the left, so much so that Brodie wondered if it were sound enough for him to enter. When Brodie glanced back Deputy William Proffit stood with a grin on his face.

Ain't no one in there, Mr. Wade. Go on in. Place's been abandoned for right on thirty years. Deputy Proffit smiled. Sheriff says I got to send you in to see whatever it is you can see. We've been hog-tied on this case for ten years. Don't see how you're gonna solve anything by looking this long after the fact... but that's not my call, now is it.

You should stay out here, officer. Brodie inhaled a deep breath, faced the church doors then released the breath through his nose. He wiped his palms down the side of his long black trench coat, dreading what he might see in there. The deputy wouldn't see anything, of course. They never did. Only Brodie could see and interact with The Truth. It had tormented him since he could remember.

Aww, what's wrong? Don't want me to see how you do the voodoo that you do? Deputy Proffit laughed at his own wit.

Brodie didn't laugh. No, he didn't want him to watch. He didn't want anyone to see, for that matter. Since no one else could see The Truth, it was awkward trying to explain to someone why you were defending yourself from some invisible foe. The constant fear of being returned to the institution paced back and forth in his head.

Digging in his coat pockets, the deputy produced a pack of cigarettes and held them out to Brodie. Grab a smoke. It'll calm your nerves.

No, thanks. I quit at the first of the year. I've been clean for too long to throw it away now.

The deputy popped one up and snatched it from the pack. Suit yourself.

Brodie scanned his surroundings as he eased himself up the steps, leery for the tell-tale signs of white mist that preceded a manifestation of The Truth. Not all manifestations were aggressive, but the few that attacked could do plenty of damage to anyone nearby. The scars from his childhood subconsciously burned at his chest as he thought of his first confrontation.

The deputy sauntered back to his cruiser. Alrighty, then. I'll be sitting out in the car keepin' warm. Come on out when you got something on Veronica's case.

Brodie nodded. The police report noted that Veronica was a teenage girl that had simply vanished ten years ago. The portfolio still lingered in his mind. He had seen several other cases this week, but this one grabbed his

Reviews for Thaloc Has a Body

[jaidisshaw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thaloc Has a Body by Jerry Hanel is the sequel to Mr. Hanel's first book, Death Has a Name. In book one, we were introduced to Brodie Wade and learned about his ability to see The Truth. Since childhood, The Truth has always been presenting itself to Brodie, giving him clues to help solve cases that aren't easily explained by evidence and science. In Thaloc Has a Body, Brodie is investigating another case that has police officers stumped at the evidence.In the most recent of murder cases, the killer is clearly caught on camera killing the victim. What should be an open and shut case, quickly turns upside-down when the killer's identity leads police to a man who died six weeks prior of heart failure. So now Brodie is given the daunting task of explaining how a man who died several weeks ago can be walking around killing people.Thaloc is a supernatural being that walks the line between good and bad. Both sides view him as a bad omen and having contact with him means almost certain death. Through a small altercation, Thaloc is freed to walk the earth as anyone he chooses. Brodie must learn to trust The Truth and have confidence in himself, to help stop Thaloc.Mr. Hanel weaves an intriguing tale that will keep you flipping until the last page. I strongly recommend that you pick up book one, Death Has a Name, and journey with Brodie through the end of book two, Thaloc Has a Body.

[keryl_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anyone who read the review I did of Death Has A Name knows that I'm a Brodie Wade fan. He's that perfectly adorable combination of vulnerable, unstable, wounded, and sweet that just makes you want to take him home, clean him up, and make sure he's safe and protected forever. Basically, if you've got even the tiniest bit of Florence Nightingale in you, you're going to love Brodie.So, I was immensely pleased to see him come back for Thaloc Has A Body. In Thaloc Brodie's got a whole new set of mysteries to figure out. Phil Dawson, his friend the police detective, is stumped. People are getting killed. Heaping piles of evidence point to the murderers, but it just doesn't feel right. Those people are acting innocent and have no motives. Then the final straw, one of the killers is a dead man. Phil calls in Brodie, and the two of them start chasing down a killer who can look like anyone, leave hair, fingerprint, and clothing evidence, and is on a killing streak. Meanwhile, The Truth, Brodie's link to the paranormal, has been pretty well behaved in the wake of Death Has A Body, but well behaved isn't the same thing as silent. It's telling Brodie his wife and death, who are one in the same, are approaching. There were some issues I had with Death, lack of back story, rushed ending, slightly flat secondary characters, all of which I was hoping to see improve in the next book. And in most of these issues Hanel delivered. Thaloc takes care of the back story issues. How did Brodie and Phil get together? Why are they friends? What kind of guy is Phil? All answered beautifully. Jamie Stanton, who was briefly introduced in Death comes back as well, and she's also nicely rounded out in this one. Brodie, as always, is a glittering diamond of a character. And, because the Truth is backing off a bit, we're getting to see what a functional Brodie, a man who's just starting to trust that maybe the world isn't going to explode around him in the next five minutes, looks like. I like functional Brodie just as much as messed up Brodie.Pacing is still pretty quick. Hanel has taken the mantra "Do Not Bore The Reader" to heart. There is no wasted time in this plot. If something is happening in the story, it's important. Pacing is also fast in the sense of how quickly characters developed. Personally, I'd like to see the character development slow down a little. But, I'm guessing the target audience for this book will be fine with things fast.Once again, the ending seems a bit rushed. Hanel writes a big climax and then sort of skimps on denouement. There are two major bombs thrown at us at the end of the story and a little time to see Brodie deal with them would be nice. We get some romance in this installment which I enjoyed. I like seeing Brodie happy. And for most people happy involves more in the way of companionship than a cat. Granted, I would have expected him to be a bit more shut off, but the romance wasn't totally out of left field. It is (as I eluded to before) fast. But not ridiculously fast, no one is declaring undying love on day two of the romance. And, I'd like to give Jerry some serious points for this, from everything we can tell Brodie is a virgin, which fits his character perfectly. There is nothing I find more off-putting than running into a socially awkward, emotionally wounded character who as soon as he gets into the bedroom turns into Mr. All-The-Right-Moves-Sex-God!There was one note in this story that rang false to me. Phil is the sort of character who's had a very, very bad time with religion in the past and it's left him hostile to the idea of God. And he's so deeply uncomfortable with the idea of God that it threatens to wedge a rift between him and Brodie. But he has a sort of no-atheists-in-foxholes moment toward the end of the book. Now, I know some pretty hardcore atheists, some of whom have been in foxholes, and they tend to get annoyed at the portrayal of when the chips are down they start praying just like everyone else. Given Phil's back story, and the way he reacted to Brodie and Jamie talking about God, his sudden prayer struck me as more Jerry making a point, than something Phil would genuinely do.But as quibbles go, that's a pretty minor one. Once again I fully enjoyed spending time with Brodie. Once again I can't wait to see what's coming next for him. The end of Thaloc left a lot of interesting possibilities for our leading man, and I'm looking forward to seeing where he goes.