Under The Blood: A Gil Leduc Mystery

By Jim Toner

Sixteen year-old school one day when he stumbles across the dead body of his close friend Paul Connors. Paul, who once had been active in his church youth group, had recently joined the Black Ravens, a Satanic gang.

Gil vows to find the killer, but he's told not to interfere with the investigation by Detective Patricia Daulton, a hard-nosed

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958678459

Book preview

Contents

Author Dedication

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XII

Acknowledgements

Author Dedication

This novel is dedicated to my instructors at the Institute of Children’s Literature Nancy Rockwell and Kristi Holl. Nancy read an early story with Gil Leduc and Jan Barrio. Kristi saw earlier versions of this novel. I thank both of these ladies for encouraging me to keep writing.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Patricia Rushford who encouraged me to keep writing. She read an earlier story with Gil Leduc. She invited me to my first ever writers conference, Writers Weekend at the Beach on Long Beach, Washington.

Thank you to Heidi Vanderslikke, Bill Fledderus, Brian Austin, Jan McKechnie, Maureen Kowal, Glynis Belec, among others who I met at God Uses Ink/Write Canada and read or heard earlier versions of this novel.

Thank you to Pastor Phil Littlejohn and Pastor Joel Gregori who encouraged me to continue to write for young people.

CHAPTER

I

Gil Leduc was on his way to school on a cool, cloudy day in mid-May when he spotted his friend Paul Connors lying near an electricity tower in an open field on St. John’s Parkway. He raced over to him and dropped to his knees.

Paul, wake up! Gil checked for a pulse and found none. He placed his ear next to Paul’s nose. Paul wasn’t breathing.

Gil grabbed his cell phone and promptly dialed 9-1-1.

Gil then paced back and forth as he waited for the police to come. He did not expect to find a dead body on the way to school, especially not that of a friend. About ten minutes later a Niagara Falls Police car stopped.

Not a good way to start your day, is it? asked the police officer as he approached Gil. I’m Officer Jake Schwartz. What’s your name?

Gil Leduc.

Your address?

408 Demunda Avenue.

Gil and the officer approached the body. The young male lay flat on his back. Blood stained his black t-shirt and the pentagram necklace he wore.

Do you know this fellow? He’s about your age.

Gil shook as he stared into Paul’s lifeless eyes. We were friends until last year. He attended the Niagara Falls Pentecostal Church youth group. Then he started hanging out with the Black Ravens.

The husky officer bit his lower lip. His eyes narrowed. The Black Ravens was a Niagara Falls gang who claimed allegiance to Satan.

What’s his name?

Paul Connors.

What else can you tell me about him? Schwartz stroked his thick brown moustache.

He attends…I mean, attended Niagara East with me. He lived on Cayuga Island. His father died almost a year ago.

Just then a blue Buick Regal arrived. Gil recognized the driver as Detective Patricia Daulton. Her daughter also attended the youth group at his church. Daulton wasted no time in asking the same questions as Officer Schwartz.

Gil placed his hands in his jeans’ pockets. At six foot four, he was a head taller than the detective.

Daulton pointed her pen at Gil. My daughter’s told me about you. You have the habit of putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. Don’t even think about snooping around trying to find out what happened here.

Gil stared at the detective’s pen. He certainly planned to find out, but she didn’t need to know.

Officer Schwartz lifted the victim’s shirt. The blood’s dry. Looks like a single gunshot wound to the heart.

Whoever did this really wanted to make sure Paul was dead, thought Gil. The killer sure knew how to use a gun.

Gil checked his watch. He’d still have time to talk to his girlfriend Jan Barrio before school started. He started to leave. Daulton stepped in front of him.

Don’t leave yet, young man, she commanded.

Gil froze in his tracks. I’ve got to go to school.

I’ve got a few more questions.

Gil’s heart skipped a beat. Her tone sounded threatening. Did Daulton think he had committed the murder?

When was the last time you saw Paul? she asked.

Gil rubbed his chin as he pondered the question.

The detective stepped toward him. Answer me.

On Wednesday.

Where?

At school.

Daulton leaned on her car. Would you have a reason to kill Paul?

"I’m the one who found him!" Gil exploded. He stood still, stunned by her question. She’d have no reason to think there was any animosity between him and Paul.

Just answer yes or no.

"I haven’t talked to him in