Beasts Shall Reign Over the Earth!

By Michael D'Agostino and Danny D'Agostino

The year is 2018.  It's August.  New York City is sweltering, baking under unrelenting heat and humidity.  Added to this misery is a wave of grotesque maulings of dogs in Lower Manhattan.  Rookie Detective Teresa Rodriguez of the 5th Precinct and her partner and soon-to-retire mentor, Detective Morgan Jackson, set out to solve the mystery.  To their shock, they uncover a mutation so grisly, so savage that it threatens all New York City, plunging the city into a reign of terror. 

NOTES:  1.  This detective thriller contains graphic scenes of horror that some readers  may find disturbing. 

                 2.  This ebook is enhanced with audio and photographic content.  You must be on the internet to hear audio content.

                    

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael and Danny D'Agostino
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386514107

Book preview

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OTHER NOVELS BY

MICHAEL AND DANNY D'AGOSTINO

Robobro - Urban Warrior

Creatures

Back To Sovietsky

The Dollar Store Lady - Bad Blood!!

Lenny

Too Good For The Hood

NASA's 1st Mission to Mars - For What?!!!

BEASTS SHALL REIGN OVER THE EARTH!

MICHAEL and DANNY D'AGOSTINO

Copyright 2018 by Michael and Danny D'Agostino

All rights reserved.  This book remains the copyrighted property of the authors, and may not be copied and/or redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes.  Copyright excludes stock photos, and stock audio samples in this book.  Although this work may be offered for free, for a limited time or permanently, the authors retain all rights under copyright law in all media. If you enjoyed reading this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.  Thank you for reading this book and for your support.

LOWER MANHATTAN

The Southern Tip of Manhattan, Below 14th Street

    Most of the story takes place in Lower Manhattan, arguably the most prized and valued real estate in the USA.  It is a community rich in culture, diversity, and history, going back to 1624.  In addition to being the home of the New York Stock Exchange, the World Trade Center and Wall Street, Lower Manhattan is distinguished by its colorful neighborhoods, arts centers, and universities. It is the location of Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, New York University, Washington Square Park, the East Village, the West Village, Off-Broadway theatres and Off-Off Broadway theatres, art galleries, jazz clubs, and over 100 restaurants.  Lower Manhattan has some quaint city streets in Chinatown and Little Italy, where people can shop at small grocery stores, gift shops, and/or eat a scrumptious dinner at a cozy sidewalk restaurant. 

    Here are some photos of actual locations in Lower Manhattan:

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Shopping for Vegetables in Chinatown, Manhattan

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Vendors Busy Delivering Their Products in Chinatown, Lower Manhattan

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The Annual San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy, Lower Manhattan

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Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan

NOTES:  This detective thriller contains graphic scenes of horror that some readers may find disturbing.  Accompanying audio music links require an internet connection and an open browser.

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Click Image for Audio

CONTENTS

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Creatures Audio Book Trailer

Creatures Chapter I Excerpt

About Michael and Danny D'Agostino

CHAPTER I

The year is 2018 - August.  New York City is sweltering, baking under a wave of unrelenting heat.  The high humidity makes Manhattan feel like a tropical island in the Pacific.  New Yorkers have experienced heat like this before, but no one ever gets used to it, not even tough New Yorkers.  So far, the weather forecasts offer no hope of the heat wave withering any time soon.  They say it may continue for 5 weeks, or maybe more.  Who knows?

    Brooklyn.  6:45 a.m.  The Rodriguez family is preparing for their day:  Grandma Florence is in the kitchen readying breakfast for Papa and her two daughters, Teresa and her older daughter, Juanita, and Juanita's kids, Pepito and Maria.  On this morning, they're all sharing breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa.  The kids' ages are eight years for Pepito, and five years of age for Maria, and both are energetic youngsters, as most kids are at this age.  Their mother is thirty-two years old and her sister Teresa just turned thirty.  Florence is in her early sixties.  Roberto, her husband, is a bit older.  We catch them when everyone except Grandpa is at the breakfast table.  He's still upstairs, shaving.  Another person missing from this crew is Juanita's husband, Diego.  He is at home, sound asleep, because he works the night shift as a trucker, delivering grocery items to deli stores in Manhattan.   

    The Rodriguezes live in a nice moderately priced two story home in Flatbush, featuring a quaint spacious attic.  It's just off Avenue D.  Owned it for twenty years or so.  This family and all the kids are the pride and joy of East 28th street.  Grandpa Rodriguez is a super hard-working foreman at the Department of Sanitation in Brooklyn.  As a young immigrant from Mexico, he started as a garbage collector and worked his way up to foreman.  Today, he is so successful they call him gran jefe, big boss, at work - the man.  He supervises three crews and mentors four new employees, and counting. 

    Roberto is very proud to be an American.  He expresses his pride by displaying a three foot U.S. flag hanging on the kitchen wall, above the dining table.  It was his idea against Florence's wishes.  The slightest negative comment regarding the flag in grandpa's presence usually elicits, Don't nobody touch or dare criticize my flag in this house!  That's how strong his appreciation and love of the U.S. are.

    Getting back to breakfast:

    Florence, who makes a wild breakfast, has just put it all on the table.  She comments, Papa is running late.  No more time to wait.  Dive in kids.  And they did, enjoying a scrumptious menu of eggs with hash browns, bacon, toasted cornbread, enchiladas, and tasty beef burritos.  There isn't a whole lot of chatting going on during this breakfast.  It's a fiesta.

    Teresa happened to glance at the flag, and remark, Momma . . . how long are you going to keep that flag up there?  It's getting dusty.  Florence cast a disapproving glance at her number two daughter, to which Juanita responded, You should know better, Teresa.  You are lucky Papa didn't hear you say that. 

    Yeah, you're right.  

    Florence, waving a napkin in her face, trying to cool off, remarked, Mama mia!  Boy is it hot out there!  When, I say when, will this heat give up?  I can't take the humidity any longer.  I'm going to have Grandpa check the air-conditioner.  I feel like I'm living in a hot Texas border town.

    I heard on the radio, Grandma, they say the rest of the summer, replied Pepito.

    Maria added, "I heard that too, Lita  (Grandma).  They said it." 

    Grandma paused.  . . . Juanita, is Diego doing OK, in all this heat?  Doesn't it bother him?

    He says he likes it, Mom.  It's cooler at night and besides his truck has really good air conditioning.  It isn't a problem for him.

    Thirty minutes later, breakfast is at an end, and Grandpa is still upstairs.  He's really not late, just a meticulous morning person.  Well they couldn't wait for him.  Everyone finished.  Grandma kissed the kids, and gave her daughters her usual loving goodbye hugs, and they all left for the day.

    Just outside the home on the sidewalk in front, Juanita whispered to her sister.  When are you going to tell them?  You know you can't keep it a secret forever. 

    I will, Teresa said, in a muted voice. 

    But Juanita insisted.  You are going to break Momma's heart.  You know it.  And Papa will never forgive you. 

    Teresa responded firmly, I can't live my life for them forever, Juanita!  What about me and my dreams?  Do you want me to keep hoping forever, that some day they'll promote me to detective?  No.  I've been working for the NYPD for six years - all that time sitting in front of a computer monitor - eight hours a day.  That's all I do, look at screens. 

    Juanita shook her head, You know what Papa always says - a steady good job, every day, every hour . . . that's the only thing that pays off.  That's what gets you ahead. 

    Baloney.  Today, people need to be promoted when they have the qualifications, and I do.  I'm right.  I'm fully trained to be a detective for the New York Police Department!  So why am I not a detective, out on the street solving crime, collecting forensics, pursuing bad guys?  No, they've got me stuck, hopelessly at a desk.  That's my future with the New York Police.  I'm goin' to New Jersey sooner or later, Juanita, and take one of those detective openings.  Maybe New York just isn't the place for me.

    Just then Grandma peeked through the window, wondering why they hadn't left yet.  Juanita glanced back at her mother, then responded to Teresa, OK, let's git, and you better think over what I said, Teresa.  Teresa motioned acknowledgement of her sister's opinion.  Then they departed. 

    Juanita put the kids into her car and headed for school. 

    And Teresa sprinted away to the bus stop for her journey to Manhattan, to the 5th precinct Police Station where she manages the computer data division.  In her official position, she is responsible for investigative computer searches, researching backgrounds, identifying possible criminals through finger print analysis, DNA matchups and forensics for all ongoing cases.  Most of her work is on request from detectives in the precinct.  In the office, she is engagingly called the rap sheet lady.  It is a very important job for the NYPD, requiring her to generate critical background data, and most of it on a rush basis.

    At the 5th precinct, her section is located way in the back of this huge office.  Just as Teresa stepped into the office, two detectives dashed up to her.  Teresa! Teresa! said the first detective.  Can you get me the complete rap sheet on the Larry Hines suspect like this afternoon?  We are having a meeting in the Chief's office in three hours. 

    I'll have it in about an hour, Teresa replied.  It's almost done.  No problem. 

    The second detective, Andrew Pace, approached her nervously.  Teresa . . .  Teresa.  I can't take this! . . . The boss is on my butt to come up with suspects for the string of burglaries on Avenue C.  Can you pull together the rap sheets on my suspects by tomorrow, early? 

    . . . No earlier than ten, Andrew. 

    All right!  That'll do.  Thanks, Teresa.  You are a gem.

    Teresa made it to her desk, which was jammed with case files.  Right in back of her sat a behemoth file cabinet, chock full of case files.  The only saving grace of her encumbered office is Teresa herself.  She is impeccably dressed in her uniform.  Both her pants and shirt fit perfectly, are neatly ironed and her shoes are shined almost like a mirror.  Of course her hair and makeup highlight her presence without any hint of being overdone.  She is just a charming credit to the force, much unlike your typical street cop.  

    While turning on her computer, her female cop friend, Emily, dropped by and quietly asked Teresa, Did you tell them, yet?  Did you make up your mind? 

    Not yet, maybe next week I will make a final decision.  I have to think about it some more. 

    I just don't know what this precinct is going to do without you, Teresa.  No one can do the job like you.  No one. 

    They'll just have to recruit someone, replied Teresa.  It isn't my problem. 

    Chatting done, Emily started walking away in haste, then suddenly turned around, looking at Teresa's office and commented.  You know, Teresa . . . if the NYPD doesn't spring for some money soon, for file cabinets and shelving in here, I'd say this place is gonna look like a rummage sale. 

    Don't you think I know that? Teresa responded.

    Teresa settled in - her computer logged in.  Then she turned on her small TV, which she uses as background sound to calm her busy day.  Immediately, an unusual TV news report appeared.  An official of the New York Health Department was announcing proudly, that rodent infestation in a one square block along East Broadway Street in Manhattan, had decreased by a full thirty per cent.  The official giving the report beamed with the news, proclaiming that the city's extermination program was experiencing real progress for the first time in several years.  Teresa nodded her head, approvingly. . . Her computer now ready for work, she started on the Larry Hines case. 

    Proceeding to the Chief's office, one of New York's most experienced top level detectives, Morgan Jackson, is sitting right across from the Chief, complaining.  Incidentally, Morgan could actually double for the