Shadow Doctors: Atlanta Homicide Squad, #3.5

By Cortez Law III

Peachtree Park and Tuxedo Park 30305. Virginia-Highland 30306. Affluent suburbs of the privileged and the wealthy. Residential real estate values and personal net worth that ranges from the 'paltry' hundreds of thousands and a few million to the tens of millions.

Hard workers. Professional careers. Savvy investors. Generational riches.

Homicide victims.

Before the career changing events of COLD LICK (2015), Sergeant Malcolm Hobbs and Detective Orlando Queen lead the X-Men Homicide Detective Squad in pursuit of a crafty and elusive enemy that leaves mysterious clues at crime scenes that baffle the elite investigators.

As Hobbs and Queen steer the unit's investigation into the lives of the fatalities, patterns emerge and converge. The detectives race against time with an intense manhunt to stop the crimes, arrest the perpetrator behind them and save Atlanta's prestigious inhabitants before their demise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Metro Black & Blue Books
• Release date: Aug 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393356820

Cortez Law III

Cortez Law III is the author of eight independently published books. The romance novel, My Brother's Keeper (2001) and the Atlanta X-Men Homicide suspense/mystery/thriller novels Kremlin Tide (2014), Cold Lick (2015), Serial Rites (2017), Shadow Doctors (2019) and Threat Nexus (2020). He also published the science fiction/thriller novel, S.Y.P.H.E.N. (2015) and the supernatural horror novella, Evil Realms (2019). Visit him online at cortezlaw.net.

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Metro Black & Blue Books

Canton, GA 30115

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Evil Apprehended.

Justice Served.

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Romans 13:4, For he [governing authorities] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Copyright © 2019 by Cortez Law III

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All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of Metro Black & Blue Books

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Metro Black & Blue Books Canton, GA 30115

First Edition: August 2019

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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Graphic Design of Cover by fiverr.com/queen_graphics

Metro Black & Blue Books’ Logo by Cool Text Graphics Generator

To all people who fell wronged and struggle to let that pain go remember Romans 12:19: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. (NKJV)

Shadow Doctors is dedicated to you.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank the readers for taking the time to enjoy the work of so many authors’ voices in publishing. Thank you for buying, sharing, and discussing the literary works poured out from a writer’s spirit, soul, and body. Your words of encouragement and yes, even the critical ones, help to fuel our passions to face that blank screen day after day, month after month, and year after year. We compose our pieces for ourselves certainly with no less effort expended for you. Thanks!

1

2700 Macon Drive

Lakewood Heights

Southeast Atlanta, GA

1:30 A.M.

Despite being gagged, the man screamed. It was a futile effort. He squirmed about with the overhead lights reflecting on the metal silver gurney. His arms and legs were leather strapped with big shiny steel buckles. The white male looked sixty-something with his short-cropped black hair mopped with sweat. His entire body resembled his hair. He continued to lick his trembling lips more in a nervous action than to dab any much-needed moisture for them. His brown eyes, wild with terror, attempted to defy the added strap that crossed over his forehead. Everything in his sight blurred. He continued blinking and stretching of his eyes.

Footsteps echoed in the semi-lit room. Gray cement block walls about ten feet high surrounded the scared man. At the head of the gurney, on both sides, and the foot of the table, four men stood stationary. The man at the head of the table studied the near hyperventilating man. The figures remained blurry.

Randall Mark Joseph. Age sixty-seven, a native Georgian, birthplace Augusta, GA. Son of parents Reiss and Annabelle Joseph. Grandson of Robert and Lewellen Joseph. All four deceased. Doesn’t have to be your fate, Randall. We won’t keep you long. We only need one thing from you— His right index finger shook in the air just above his nose and remained there. One. Financial access to your bank accounts and investments. The man removed the gag.

That’s all you want?

Yes. But before you ask questions...

Another indistinct shape appeared and wheeled a second gurney that ceased movement to the bound man’s left. He strained to glimpse, but his head fasteners restricted any movement.

R-Randall?

He about convulsed at the sound.

Margaret? Margaret, is that you?

Oh, Randall! I can’t see too well. Are you here?

Right here. I’m right here, Margaret. I can’t see you either. Did they hurt you?

A latex-gloved hand from the man at his head smothered Randall’s mouth to silence.

"No one has to