7/31/2019 Excerpt: The Shamanic Detective
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Chapter 1
Riga turned her back on the sheriffs station, agingerbread house
at night. Snow, glittering beneath theparking lot lamps, frosted
its eaves. Dark pines formed anuneven backdrop. But the cheerful
lights from its windows
were mocking, and the starless sky a smothering darkness.Shed
failed.Donovan Mosse, her lover, was inside, under arrest.She
remembered the shock and defiance on his face
when the first cuff was snapped in place. She rememberedhow
theyd led him down the steps of the wooden deck,hands pinioned
behind his broad back. She rememberedthe sunlight, glinting
mercilessly off the snow, off thecrystalline lake, off the black
window of the agents
departing SUV.She remembered, and the memories, only hours
old,seemed unreal.
Riga stopped beside her Lincoln, fumbling in thepocket of her
ski vest. After Donovans arrest, shed comestraight to the station,
still in her sports gear from theircross-country jaunt, her skin
musty with sweat.
The keys slipped from her fingers, dropping to the wetsnow. She
bent to retrieve them, and paused, crouching,one hand resting
lightly against the fender. Riga clenchedher jaw. She would not
cry, dammit.
7/31/2019 Excerpt: The Shamanic Detective
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THE Shamanic DETECTIVE
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No. Riga blanched. Not Donovan. Hes a goodman. And even if he
wasnt, he would never jeopardize his
business so stupidly, never put himself in the power
ofcriminals. He was too independent, too strong-willed forthat. It
went against everything she knew about him. Ineed to see him.
You will, Sharon said, as soon as we can arrange it.He wants to
see you too. But the FBI is viewing him as asuspect and as a
witness. Hes in protective custody. Right
now, the feds and his legal team are the only ones who canget
close to him. But well get you in.
Rigas throat tightened. Thanks.Were lucky hes being held so
close by. The FBI has
a substation in Stateline so theyll be holding him here, atthe
sheriffs station, until they can bring him to the federal
building, where hell appear before a magistrate.Riga
nodded.Thats actually not why I came out here, Sharon said.
Its about your ring. I havent been able to get it backyet.
She looked blankly at Sharon. My ring? Riga didntwear a
ring.
Mr. Mosse said he was holding it when he wasarrested. The police
are keeping it with all his otherpersonal effects. He was adamant
about getting it back toyou, but Im sorry, I havent made any
progress. Itsevidence now.
Riga leaned dizzily against the car. The ring.Dont worry, Sharon
said. If its yours, well get it
back. Is it a family heirloom?No, she croaked. Riga turned away,
her vision
wavering. Roughly, she thrust the key into the lock, yankedthe
door open. Its an engagement ring.
