OHIO 10

From the 2019 Author Academy Award winner for Best Romance, Madison: God’s Fingerprint 1.618, comes Ohio 10.

A story about good cops versus bad cops amid a crooked, criminal, and political regime. Based in the capital city of Ohio, the stories surround a diverse group of Columbus detectives. Against all odds, the team takes on the inestimable task of maintaining integrity and staying alive while bringing the city to justice from top to bottom.

Excerpt from chapter one:

“Pathological constriction, or strangulation, in layman’s terms, is the cause of death.” The coroner had performed the autopsy but was still waiting on the toxicology reports. The brown tile floor, contrasting against the dull gray walls, was just as bland as the silver carts holding the corpses waiting to be attended. The cuffs of his white lab coat were rolled at the sleeve.

Cole had never gotten comfortable being in cold chambers filled with dead bodies, so, as Sheldon stepped aside, he focused on the ligature marks on the woman’s neck. They appeared to be made from some form of thin wire.

Everett let out a sigh, before pointing to the stab wounds and stating the obvious.

“Her blood has pooled together....”

"Yes, there are signs of lividity.” The coroner didn’t intend to sound condescending, but his matter-of-fact communication often rubbed people the wrong way.

“That’s what I f*ckin’ said, Shelly.” His broad shoulders lifted slightly as he inhaled slowly.

Everett found it easy to match Shelly’s gruff tone. He was constantly on edge since separating from his wife, and balancing his family and work was on ongoing struggle. Helping other families find closure by solving homicides tilted the scale lightly back in his favor. He understood that she loved him still, but his reluctance to put family first had been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“This was personal...this seem personal to you, partner?” Everett pointed at the facial bruising of the victim.

“Intimate, partner, this was intimate. A crime of passion, to be exact. This was rage in its purest form. The bruises before the asphyxiation, the postmortem cuts to the body. She upset someone, and I bet whoever it was left something behind for us.”

Cole thought about the victim’s last moments before pulling the sheet back across the body.

“When you get the reports on Ms. Brittany, call us.” In trying to be respectful, Cole always referred to the victims by name. Upset, Everett stormed out of the morgue.

“Don’t mind him, he’s not as good at compartmentalizing as he thinks. Call me when the reports get in.” Cole finished, before following behind.

“Hey E, hold up. I’m not jamming all up in your business, but what’s up?”

They stepped aside as the door to the elevator opened. An attractive blonde lab technician was exiting, and her face lit up as she smiled at Cole. She hurried past, as if her smile betrayed their secret.

“Are you serious? Her too, Cole? I wish my life was as simple as yours. Robbi told me she’s dating someone. I can’t blame her—well, I can, but it wouldn’t be fair.” Everett paused, as he received a text message.

“Maybe it wasn’t ideal to accept more responsibility by remaining in the military and doing this job full time, but we...we make a difference to so many people by giving them closure. I think we were losing each other before I even came back from overseas."