Serpent

By Susan Horsnell

A strange cult is operating in a suburb of Canberra, Australia.

Cult members are responsible for a young man's murder.

But who is in charge?

And why are they committing murder?

Can Detective Flynn Mitchell, and Forensic Pathologist, Lily Reid, piece together the puzzle before it's too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Sep 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215137925

Susan Horsnell

I’m an Australian author who lives in Queensland when not travelling and I write in a variety of Romantic sub-genres, including Western,  Historical, Gay, Mafia, and Contemporary Romance.  I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong, independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series. My books are known for their well-researched historical details, vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape and real life experiences. My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have been a Finalist in both the Rone Awards and Laramie Awards as well as being a multiple times International Bestselling Author and USA Today Bestselling Author. If you're interested in learning more about my books:  Linktree https://linktr.ee/SusanHorsnell   

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Copyright © 2018 by Susan Horsnell

The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

Written by Susan Horsnell

Edit: Redline Editing

Line Edit by Robyn Corcoran

Published by: Lipstick Publishing

ABN: 573-575-99847

Email: [e-mail]

Cover by Kellie from

https://www.facebook.com/kellie.theresa.56

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Real name places are used throughout this book but, events occurring in these locales are purely fictitious and for the benefit of the story only.

Thank you to ACT Police Media Liason for their assistance on procedures.

Chapter One

Tom, Lucas, hold up, Tamara yelled as she brought her bicycle to a stop.

Madison skidded to a stop alongside her friend. They stepped off their bikes and laid them carefully on the ground.  The boys turned around and pedaled back to where the girls stood peering into the forest of pine trees.

What's…..Jeez, who's that? Lucas asked. He lowered his bike and approached the man who lay tangled in dead, but thorny, raspberry branches. He lay only meters from the dirt path.

Is he dead? Madison asked.

Tom placed his fingers against the man's neck. No pulse and plenty of blood. He held up his hand; blood ran from his fingers onto his wrist.

Lucas crouched closer and examined the dead man's neck. Lost a lot of blood, probably what killed him.

Ya think, Einstein? Tom said sarcastically.

His shorts are covered with blood too, Tamara said.

Yeah, hate to think what's happened down there. Better leave it alone and call the cops. Lucas dialed triple zero. After explaining what they had found, and their location, the four teens settled themselves by the path to wait.

~*~

Station Sargent Owen Marks, strode to Detective Inspector Flynn Mitchell's office and handed over the phone report. Flynn read the scribble while Owen stood patiently.

Thanks, Sargent. Locate Detective Richards and Detective King and ask them to report to me. I'm gonna take a look at this one with them. Radio Senior Constable Little and Senior Constable White and tell them to meet us at the scene. Call Constable Saunders and tell her I'd like two dogs. Get someone from Forensics out there too.

Yes, sir. The Sargent left to make the relevant calls.

Flynn picked up the phone and dialed the number of Commander Justin Fairweather, the Deputy Chief Police Officer – Crimes. He answered on the second ring.

Commander Fairweather.

Sir. Detective Inspector Mitchell. We've just received a report of a body found off a dirt track in Pierce's Creek Forest. It's about a hundred meters from Murray's Crossing. I've organized two detectives, two constables, and dogs. I'd like to take a look at this one myself.

Who found the body?

Four teenagers who were cycling in the area.

Any details?

"Only that there is a lot of blood and the man is, according to one of the teenagers, old. The boy who called dispatch said the deceased was probably twenty something."

Haha, I must be fucking ancient.

I guess to teenagers, anyone over twenty is old. We have the satisfaction of knowing they won't think so when they are that age.

That's the truth. Why do you want to look at this one?

No real reason. I haven't been on a case for a while and I like to keep my investigative skills up.

Fair call. Let me know what you find.

Will do, sir.

The commander hung up and Flynn replaced his phone in the cradle at the same time two detectives appeared in the doorway.

Sir, Sarg said you asked us to report to you. Detective Peyton Richards said.

Flynn stood, picked up his keys and rounded his desk. We have a murder near a bike trail off Paddy's River Road. Teenagers found the body and phoned it in. I want you two to investigate and I'm tagging along.

Yes, sir. Detective Jace King moved aside so Flynn could exit the office first.

Grim-faced, the three Detectives headed for Flynn's unmarked police car.

~*~

Dust blanketed the area as the first vehicle negotiated the Murrumbidgee River crossing and arrived on the scene. The teenagers stood and approached the police officer's as they stepped from their car.

Who found the body? Senior Constable Gabe Little asked.

Tamara stepped forward. I did.

Senior Constable Layla White crouched near the victim and scanned the body. Did anyone touch him?

I felt for a pulse at his neck, Tom said.

You didn't move him or touch anything else? Layla asked.

No, the teenagers answered in unison.

What were you doing when you found him? Gabe asked.

Riding the trails. I glanced into the forest and saw him lying there, Tamara said.

The police made a note of the youths’ names and contacts. The teenagers were in the process of leaving when the detectives arrived.

Flynn unfolded his body from the driver's seat of his car and approached the two constables. What have you got? He crouched near the body being careful to avoid the raspberry bush thorns. Frogs croaked in the distance. The trickling of water over rocks sounded close by.

Not much, sir. We haven't been here long and were questioning the kids who found the body. They didn't see or hear anything. Came across the deceased when they were cycling, Gabe answered.

Check the surrounding area and see if you can find anything that might give us a clue as to what he was doing out here, Flynn instructed.

Layla and Gabe disappeared into the surrounding pine trees.

Flynn, Peyton, and Jace had removed the thorny branches and were examining the body when both Forensics, and the vehicle carrying the dogs, drew to a stop. Another coating of dust settled over the area.

Sir, where do you want the dogs? Constable Ashley Saunders asked.

Check the surrounding area. See if the dogs can pick up on anything, Flynn instructed.

Ashley moved back to the vehicle where her partner, Constable Morgan Reid, was readying the dogs. The first jumped from the crate followed closely by the second. The German Shepherds sat, waiting patiently for instructions.

Basil, Oscar, fetch, Morgan instructed.

The two girls followed their dogs into the forest.

Detectives, mind if I take a closer look?

The honeyed voice of the Forensics Officer washed over Flynn like refreshing spring rain. He bounced to his feet and found himself gazing down into the most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes he had ever seen. He extended his hand. You must be new on the job. Detective Inspector Flynn Mitchell.

Lily slid her hand into the outstretched hand of the devilishly handsome man. He was tall, like most men on the force. His shirt stretched across chest muscles and his biceps bulged. He obviously worked out. His dark hair was short but unruly, and she wanted to drown in his sparkling, sea blue eyes. The man looked more like a bronzed surfer than a cop. Dr. Lily Reid. I started last week, transferred from Goulburn.

Flynn flinched at the bolt of electricity which shot through his body when they touched. His cock jumped; it was interested. The doctor was naturally pretty, her skin smooth and unblemished. She was no manufactured beauty. Her dark brown hair, tied up in a ponytail, showed hints of red which shimmered in the sun. His gaze lowered to her lips, full, plump, bow shaped and, oh, so kissable. She was tall and had curves right where he liked them.

Detective?

Her voice jolted him back to the present. Sorry, doc.

You left us for a moment, she said as she pulled on thick rubber gloves. Hope you took a good look. I asked what you knew about the victim.

Um, we only arrived a few minutes before you and were in the process of examining it.

Lily stepped closer and squatted down. She noted the large pool of blood by the victim's shoulder and turned his head to examine the area more closely. The three detectives watched as she frowned.

What have you noticed? Peyton asked.

Lily pushed the deceased's head further over. Here. she pointed her gloved finger to two large puncture marks on the side of the neck. These look like bite marks, but I've never seen anything like it before. Look at the swelling, the bruising and necrosis.

The detectives inspected the area. Maybe we have a vampire, Flynn joked.

Lily swung around and glared at him. I don't think joking over a dead body is appropriate, sir.

Flynn lowered his head but couldn't prevent his lips turning upwards. The lady's feisty. I apologize, he said.

Lily continued checking the body. There's an awful lot of blood in the groin area, but I don't want to remove his shorts and contaminate any evidence. It appears, from the blood everywhere, he was killed here.

She lifted his hands, one at a time and inspected them carefully.

He doesn't seem to have put up a struggle. No skin under his fingernails. He knew his attackers.

More than one attacker, doc? Jace asked.