Crossing Lines

Book 6: A Sam Mason Mystery

by L.A. Dobbs

Genres: Animal Cozy Mysteries; Hard-Boiled; Police Procedurals; Crime & Mystery; Crime Fiction

Synopsis

He got away with murder once before...

A missing persons case in White Rock, New Hampshire turns sinister and sheds light on what might be the biggest mistake of Sam Mason’s career.

But the sickening realization that his arch-enemy, Lucas Thorne, may not be guilty of the crime that put him behind bars is the least of Sam’s worries. A dangerous killer is targeting young girls and Sam and his K-9 Lucy must stop him.

But life at the White Rock Police station is complicated. Sam has just discovered that his second in command, Jody Harris, hasn’t exactly been truthful to him. Officer Kevin Deckard is still in a coma, and newcomer Wyatt Davis has secrets of his own. The only steady thing in Sam’s world right now is his trusty K-9 Lucy.

As the killer escalates, Sam races against the clock to prevent the death of another victim. But the leads are dead ends and the clues don’t make any sense... until Sam uncovers the shocking true identity of the killer.... Too bad he may have figured it out, just moments too late.

Release date: October 15, 2020

Publisher: Independently published

Print pages: 192

Sample

The killer gazed down into the shallow grave, the intense elation he’d felt only moments ago giving way to disappointment. The girl was no longer pretty. No longer fresh. 

Her red hair, once so vibrant, was matted and dull, soiled with the leaves and dirt of the forest floor. Her formerly radiant porcelain skin was now tinted gray. The excitement he’d felt as he’d watched the spark of life slowly disappear from her eyes had faded. 

Soon he’d need to find another.

It was a shame, really, after all these years. He thought his malevolent urges had gone away. But his sickness had returned despite his noble efforts to tamp it down. The recent discovery of those victims from years ago had stoked the evil fire that burned within him. 

At least someone else was in jail for the others. The killer laughed at the thought of pompous Lucas Thorne sitting in a cell for something he didn’t do. Not that Thorne hadn’t done many things to land in a cell. He deserved to be in prison because he’d purposely harmed others and broken the law. The killer didn’t deserve a cell. He couldn’t help what he did. It wasn’t his fault. 

As long as Thorne remained in jail for those murders, no one would know who had really committed the crime. Which was a perfect cover for the killer. 

The hoot of an owl jarred him out of his reverie. Above, the moon looked down between the tops of the trees as if watching his every move, a quiet witness to his indiscretions.

The killer picked up the shovel. Better get to work. The sooner this one was covered and forgotten, the sooner he could start on his next project. Yes, he thought of them as projects. He wasn’t just a random killer. There was a method to his art. First choosing the perfect victim. Then stalking, and then finally, when he could no longer hold himself back, taking and killing. Helping them disappear into the earth was the final step.

Out here, he’d found the perfect place to lay his projects to rest. No one would be digging around in an owl sanctuary.

The thought of starting anew made him giddy as he picked up the shovel and tossed the first clump of dirt into the grave.