I.O.U. Dead: Keno Kalder Mystery

By Michelle Wan

Keno is twenty-three, a high-school dropout working as a rent collector for a slum landlord. Apart from hitting on the office secretary, Cass, his life is bleak. His job takes him into sad, mean places where kids wail, drunks fight and women get beaten up. He works his territory with Jaco, who’s tougher and shiftier than any of the folks they’re sent to shake rent out of.

One night Keno and Jaco finally catch up to one of their targets. But she’ll never pay. She’s dead. Battered almost beyond recognition. But they recognize her killer, and Jaco comes up with a scheme to blackmail him.

Now Keno has to decide who he is—bill collector or blackmailer. Or could he even be the good guy? Will he run or will he stay? In the end, will trusting himself help him outmaneuver a psychopathic killer?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Sep 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781459809093

Michelle Wan

Michelle Wan is the author of the Death in the Dordogne series, including Deadly Slipper, The Orchid Shroud and A Twist of Orchids. She lives in Ontario, Canada.

Book preview

TWELVE

ONE

My name is Keno, and like my name, my life is a lottery. I’m twenty-three and I’m a collector. I don’t mean stamps or baseball cards. I chase up skips and deadbeats, people who don’t pay their rent, people who run out on their bills. It’s not a nice job. I feel sorry for a lot of my targets, who, when I catch up with them, always have a sad tale to tell. But some are pretty shifty. A few you wouldn’t want to meet without armed backup.

When I was a kid, the doctor told my mom I was ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disordered. That means my mind wandered, and I couldn’t sit still. I also had a reading disability. Kids made fun of me because I stuttered under pressure and acted weird. I was what my teachers called challenged. I still am. But if there’s one thing I am not, it’s a bully. I hate bullies.

In case you’re wondering why a guy like me thinks anyone would be interested in his life story, let me tell you. It’s because someone’s got to know. I want you to know what happened to me, and I don’t have much time. A killer is out there on the loose, and before the night is out I may be dead.

TWO

They say every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. I see I’ve jumped you right into the middle. For you to understand what’s going on, you have to go back with me. To the beginning.

The beginning is a typical night. Jaco gets his foot in before the Shadow can slam the door. He follows the foot up with his body, enough to let him grab our target and yank him out. Then Jaco jerks him in close.

You can run, but you can’t hide, Jaco says. We’ll always find you. You owe two months’ back rent on your last address, and you’re in arrears here. We’ve come to collect. He doesn’t raise his voice, but you know he means business. He’s bigger than me—I’m six feet in my socks—and ten times as mean.

The Shadow starts blubbering about how he ain’t been paid, like it’s his boss’s fault he did a midnight flit out of his last place. And the place before that. We’ve chased this guy all over town. It’s why we call him the Shadow. Jaco has him by the collar now and is banging him against the wall. He says, real sweet, So let’s do a deal. You pay up now, and I don’t break your head. He gives the Shadow a harder slam when he says head to show he’s serious. I wince.

The Shadow screams, All right, all right. Just don’t hit me again.

Jaco looks at me, all innocence. Did I hit him? Did I strike our friend here?

I shrug.

The Shadow is sniveling. He promises to have the money next week.

"Now, says Jaco. Or that wall’s gonna feel a lot harder."

Okay, okay. The Shadow digs his wallet out. He gives us everything he has, still a few hundred short of what he owes. I write out a receipt, and Jaco says, "The rest tomorrow, or things are gonna get real intense. And don’t even think about leaving town."

It’s Jaco’s standard routine. He’d rather beat the rent out of you than evict you, because eviction is messy, you have to serve notice, and most times you have to call the bailiff in. Usually the tenants are so mad they trash the place before they go—that is, if it can get any trashier. And he has no mercy on skips like the Shadow.

Still, I feel kind of sorry for the guy.

You bashed him pretty good, I say as we walk out to Jaco’s car. I zip my jacket up. These fall nights can be cool.

He had it coming, Jaco says.

I remind him that we’re not supposed to damage the clientele.

He snorts. Don’t waste your sympathy on that scumbag. For all you know, he’s the serial killer the cops are looking for.

I do a double take and try to make out if Jaco’s serious. It’s hard to read his expression in the fading light. Most of the streetlamps in this part of town are out.

"Fits the profile, don’t he? A loner, always on the move, looks harmless. But he’s the kind who would sneak up behind you and whack!" Jaco makes a fake lunge at me. Now I know he’s taking the mickey. All the same, the thought gives me the creeps. Two women have been battered to death in the past few months, and the city is on high alert. The cops have given the killer a name on account of his weapon of choice: the Hammer.

I’ve been at the job six months, Jaco six years. Some of what we do is regular rent collection for landlords. A lot of it is chasing down skips like the Shadow, who try to duck their debts by moving around. Most of the time we work our territories separately, but tonight, thinking about the Hammer, I’m glad we’re paired. True, so far he’s only attacked women. But you never know.

In fact, our work brings us up against some pretty mean characters. And slippery ones. That’s when we work in twos. Jaco doesn’t like being hitched to a Talkover like me. That’s what he calls me. Anyone can talk over me. He’s too smart for that, is Jaco. He’s seen it all. It’s probably what soured him on life.

Our next call is a duplex on Freeman. Her name is Amber Light—no kidding, it’s really her name, which makes you wonder what red and green stand for with her. A cute redhead, always a couple of months behind and swift to dodge the rent man. I only met her once for that reason, but it was enough for me to know she’s a real sharp lady. I

Reviews for I.O.U. Dead

[cathyshelton_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A quick read about Keno who is a rent collector who runs into a serial killer. Keno and his partner, Jacob, try to profit from this by attempting to blackmail the killer instead of turning him into the police. Along the way they have to, not only protect themselves, but also their families and loved ones. They solve the crime and decide to start their own crime solving company including Keno's girlfriend.

[tracycampbell-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as a giveaway through Librarything Early Reviewers. Keno Kalder is a young bill collector who suddenly finds himself in way over his head when he tries to collect from the wrong skip. A really quick, fun read and a character that I look forward to reading more of in the future.

[tinasnyderrn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazingly good book for a rapid read. Often I find rapid reads leaving me feeling like I've missed something. This book is exceptionally good at making the reader feel as though they know the characters. From start to finish this book kept me interested. I would love to read more Keno Kalder mysteries. Kudos to the author Michelle Wan!!! A job well done!!!

[therealjim · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Michelle Wan introduces us to a new character named Keno.Keno is a rent collector along with his partner stumble upon a murder. The killer runs right past him. Keno knows who it is and they decide to blackmail the killer instead of going to the police.I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good mystery. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[ko40370 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a "Rapid Read", and indeed it is, just a couple of hours is all it takes, if that. And it was quite entertaining. The relationship between Keno, Jaco, and Sass was very well written, and I'm looking forward to addional entries in the planned series.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

SEP 8 - This is the first in a new series about Keno Kalder. Here he and his partner, working as rent collectors, stumble across the serial killer The Hammer's third victim and Keno saw him running out the back door recognizing who it might be! Part of Orca's Rapid Read series with low reading levels aimed at adult readers perfect for ESL, Adult Literacy, reluctant readers or just anyone needing a quick read. This one started off with a bit too much "lingo" for my tastes, both related to the job and the narrator's age of 22. However, once the story got going, I found it an enjoyable little mystery. You know who did it right away so it's not really a mystery but more of a chase. Will they catch him before someone else gets killed? Well-written and, needless to say, action-packed. Because of the action and the shortness of the book one might think character suffers, yet Wan has done a good job here as well. There are three main characters, who will continue on with the series, and she has spent most of her development on the main title character who narrates the story. Many adults in the audiences these books are intended for will relate with him.

[croknot1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kept me interested from the beginning. Loved the plot and the characters. I read it in one sitting. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because I wanted it to be longer! Can't wait for the next installment. Great job!

[vivienner_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a well-told mystery with engaging characters, that could be described more accurately as a novella than a novel. The protagonist, Keno Kalder, was diagnosed as ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disordered, when he was a child and any reader with a similar condition will appreciate what he goes through just to earn a living. The language is adult, but it would also be suitable for young teens. Although the text is uncomplicated, the author has written with intelligence and wit that will be appreciated by readers.Orca Books defines Rapid Reads as "short books for adult readers. They are intended for a diverse audience, including ESL students, reluctant readers, adults who struggle with literacy and anyone who wants a high-interest quick read." Wan's book fits that description perfectly.

[lavermeer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I.O.U. DEAD is both a new installment in the Rapid Reads series and the introductory volume in a new mystery series featuring Keno Kalder.Keno has a dead-end job and few prospects for anything better. One night when Keno and his partner are at work collecting debts, they discover a women who has just been murdered — and Keno literally runs into the killer. Now Keno and Jaco are trying to catch a murderer before he catches them.This brief novel uses features of the typical mystery thriller, but adds interest with unexpected touches. Keno is an unusual outsider detective. His work partner, Jaco, is a thug with a surprising backstory. The structure of the story itself, though brief, was thoughtful and added to the narrator's character. At the conclusion of the story, I was keen to read more about Keno and his journey.Anyone who likes a high-action mystery should enjoy this quick book. I'm glad to see another season of Rapid Reads and look forward to the next book in the Keno Kalder series.