Dead Heat

By Patti Larsen

In this prequel to the Whitewitch Island Paranormal Cozies, Guild Artemis Inquisitor Georgia Drake stumbles on a paranormal fight ring thanks to an old contact. But when her sting ends in murder, she's left with more suspects than she can shake a spell at. Can she uncover the killer before some of them are deported for illegal activity? And where the Hades is her partner?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patti Larsen
• Release date: Oct 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998948123

Patti Larsen

About me, huh? Well, my official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is a multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn’t it? I’m a storyteller who hears character's demands so loudly I have to write them down. I love the idea of sports even though sports hate me. I’ve dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.But always, always, writing books calls me home.I’ve had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It’s the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.As for the rest of it, I’m short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can’t seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my pug overlord and overlady, six lazy cats and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

Book preview

Dead Heat

Whitewitch Island Paranormal Cozies

Prequel Novella

Smashwords Edition

Patti Larsen

Copyright 2023 by Patti Larsen

Find out more about me at

http://www.pattilarsen.com

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter One

Benjamin leaned his huge head over the center console of my SUV, dark eyes flashing in the passing streetlights. I can’t find him, Mother. His soft, deep voice held a faint whine as my mastiff sighed so deeply that I felt the heat of his breath on my cheek. Gone were the days he could occupy the front seat, the puppy I’d adopted from the Hades Hound program no longer able to squeeze himself into the passenger’s side without having to hunch. As it was, he half-laid across the bench in the back, front paws on the floor, leaving the shotgun position open.

Not that it should have been. I refrained from uttering a swear word, knowing my darling dog didn’t like it when I did. Hard to believe one of the massive mastiffs born and bred to carry out the duties of Guild Hades could be so sweet and a bit of a prude. Part of the reason he failed out at two months old, I suppose, and how he ended up with me.

Keep trying, I said, signaling to turn, New York evening traffic making driving a hazard as always. I did love Manhattan, but there were times I wished for a quieter life. That would mean giving up my place as a Guild Artemis Inquisitor, though, unless I was willing to take on a lesser assignment elsewhere. Like my family would allow such a move, let alone my partner.

Speaking of whom. Where could Elias be? Benjamin’s concern mirrored mine, but I kept it from the young dog. He might have been fully grown at just coming up to two years old, but he was still my baby. It’s not like him, Mother.

Elias Barrow, the hunter half of our little team, had always been the kind who walked to the beat of his own drum. It was part of the reason we got along so well. He didn’t judge me for the fact my grandfather was a Dragon Sentinel or that my whole family were so connected I could just scream sometimes. The fact I’d chosen such a lowly (quoting my mother) position as a mere inquisitor meant I had judgment from both sides of the fence. I could handle my parents and their wealthy and powerful friends looking down at me. But I admit, I struggled at first when I was greeted with suspicion and outright dislike from my fellow Artemis members. Elias had volunteered to be my hunter and did everything he could to make me feel welcome. Eventually, the rest of the squad softened, as I proved myself over the last twenty plus years. I owed him a lot, yes, including the leeway to do something he wouldn’t talk to me about. He was family and he deserved my faith.

Even if I was pretty sure whatever he was up to might end up badly.

Just keep your mind open to him, I said as we crossed the East River into Brooklyn. My car’s tires hummed over the pavement, lights flashing past us as we quickly reached the other side. I pulled down a side street, out of heavy traffic and now in the waterfront, the docks a few blocks away, large warehouses sprawling out in this industrial area. I checked the address again, the message from my informant flashing on the face of my cellphone.

I worry about him, Mother. Benjamin yawed with a squeaking growl, one of his ways of releasing tension.

Let’s focus on this case, I said. We’ll deal with Elias when we’re done. And oh, I’d be dealing with him. I pulled up to the address, a large building that appeared abandoned, the only lights outside flickering and in need of replacement. My phone buzzed as I stepped out into the damp evening, my boot splashing in a small puddle from the earlier rain. It wasn’t Elias, however, but my boss texting and I eye rolled without comment over the message.

Silo should be there when you arrive. Artemis Team Lead Lorne Ortos must have been using magic to type on his own phone, the massive former inquisitor of stone giant descent making it impossible for him to do so without cracking his screen with the first tap. At least he chose this method of communication. Kind of him, really, if his assignment wasn’t. The weight of his mind was disconcerting, even for someone like me with dragon blood in her near lineage. Just be nice to the kid, Drake.

Nice, right. I can handle this alone, boss, I texted back, knowing it didn’t matter now and that I was the idiot who informed him Elias was nowhere to be found. I should have kept my mouth shut. Instead, when I reported my meeting with my informant, my boss insisted on company, even if that company was in the person of Lake Silo. My favorite new hunter (can you sense the sarcasm?) was fresh out of training and knew more than anyone else in the squad. And he made sure we all knew just how smart and special he was, too, believe it. No one wanted to partner with him, surprise, surprise, which meant he was fobbed off on those of us who needed an extra pair of hands from time to time.

Elias. You owe me.

No one works alone, Ortos texted back. You know why.

I did. I sighed again over my phone and sent, I’ll keep you posted, before tucking the cell away and heading toward the corner of the building. Benjamin had already sniffed out the area, head up, ears perked. I was happy the Hound program hadn’t gotten around to docking his ears or his tail. Having both gave him a softer appearance than the brutally protective mastiffs that made up the Hound order. Floppy ears and a tail suited my Benny, though he’d certainly gained the mass of his kind, no question.

He’s this way, Mother. The mastiff turned his big head to point his wide nose in the direction I was heading.

Thanks, Benny, I said, smiling to myself. Something moved overhead, my chin rising at the sight of a pair of winged watchers who swooped in to perch on the roof of the next building.

He’s here, the black raven sent, Conscio’s mental voice disdainful. He smells like