Calculated - PROMO
Blitz
By Renee
Novelle
Psycological Thriller
Date Published: August 30,
2013
An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from a
mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the information
and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as
predicted.
Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground
prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist
in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government
officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.
But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used as a pawn
in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice trying to
figure it out?
*EXCERPT*
When she arrived at the little facility her building provided, a
quick look around confirmed she was the only one there. Just as she’d hoped,
and exactly how she liked it to be. Smiling in satisfaction, she flipped on the
television that was perched on the wall, and turned up the music on her iPod as
loud as she could handle it. The multiple distractions would help her get
through the extra mile she was planning to conquer. With chilled water bottle
in place, she cranked up the treadmill to a nice brisk
pace.
As her breathing picked up speed and her muscles began to warm,
Ana’s eye caught a red flash along the bottom of the screen. Breaking News
filled the bar, and the too-chipper-for-their-own-good reporters were suddenly
getting serious. Since the volume was still muted, Ana couldn’t understand
exactly what was going on, only that they were showing the wide stretch of
river that ran along the outskirts of the city. She wiped the first beads of
sweat from her brow, and used the remote to turn the volume of the television
higher while simultaneously adjusting her music.
As the reporters spoke, home-video footage of something floating
in the water rolled before her eyes. The camera zoomed in, the frame ever so
shaky, and it became clearly apparent that the “something” was a person - face
down with long brown hair spread out like a Catholic halo. It appeared another
victim had been pulled out of the water; the count was quickly tallying up. A
young woman this time, and possibly one who had gone missing the night
before.
Ana’s pulse skipped a few beats as they replayed the video over
and over. There was something familiar about the long, lean body. Slowing the
treadmill to a stop, she ripped the ear buds from her head to give the segment
her entire attention.
...it appears at first glance that the victim suffered from a
deep cut to the throat, and received multiple stab wounds to the
chest...
The beads of accumulated sweat turned cold on Ana’s brow. She
immediately reached for her phone and dialed Kylie’s
number.
“What the hell, Ana?” Came her friend’s groggy
voice.
“Turn your TV on. Channel four. Hurry.” Ana said, eyes
transfixed to the screen in front of her. “Recognize that
face?”
...It’s thought the victim may be one of the young girls
recently reported missing. The screen flashed candids of three possible women.
All brunettes. All tall and thin. All roughly the same age. Among them was a
photo of Mara, just as Ana had expected there would
be.
But the body was too bloated and disfigured to be absolutely
certain, and an autopsy would be needed.
... The body will be taken in for processing where officials
hope to shed more light on the case in the near future. In the mean time, they’re
cautioning residents to avoid....
“Did you see that?” Ana’s voice escaped in more of a demand than
a question. “Please tell me I’m seeing things.”
“Oh my god...” Kylie whispered into the receiver, confirming the
dread that was building in Ana’s stomach. “Do you really think it’s
her?”
“I know for a fact it is.” Ana declared, the pull in her gut
getting stronger by the minute. “The autopsy will confirm
it.”
“So,
what does this mean exactly now?”
“That maybe I should have been listening a little closer when I
was talking to Mara.” She said with regret as she swiped her forehead with the
back of her hand. “And maybe I should have asked more questions. There’s a
story here, I’m sure of it now.”
“What are you going to do?” Kylie’s voice was decidedly more
alert now.
Ana shook her
head. “I have no idea.”
Though if she were to be truthful with herself in that moment,
she’d already made up her mind. Ana flipped off the television, and left the
little gym to get started.
*About the Author: Renee
Novelle*
Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of
her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she
has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many
non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over
the years, which garnered international attention.
In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing
under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule
that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction,
Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.
Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication,
summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word.
She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a
final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art,
and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and
resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and
that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to
be.
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