Shelf Life (26 page)

T
he sun stands still for no one, not even those who’ve been to hell and back the night before. My stomach growls as soon as my feet hit the cold floor. The events of the last twenty-four hours quickly come crashing down, chasing away dreams of roaring fireplaces and Lindsey’s eyes. They’re still closed as she rolls over in the bed. I tuck the covers around her shoulders and crack the door open. Honestly, I’m afraid to even look.

Parked on the hall floor outside my bedroom door with a gun over his shoulder is Dad, who’s obviously been up all night.

“Everything okay?”

“Yep.
The prisoners are fine.”

“Prisoners?”

“That’s what they are until the police can come get them.”

“Did you restrain them or anything?”

“Yep. Zip-tied Jay to your bed, mostly so he couldn’t try to hurt himself again. His old man’s hands and ankles are tied together with para cord. Thought about hog-tying him but figured the police might think that was a little much.”

Yeah…
“Alrighty then. Mom and Sarah asleep?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, I’m going to—” A loud knock at the front door interrupts. “Guess I’m going to see who’s at the door.”

“If it’s the police, send ’
em on back.”

“Will do, Dad.”

I pad down the hall and across the living room, avoiding looking left or right at the bodies still lying there. I hope to hell if it’s the police, they’ve brought an ambulance and a mortician, too.

I open the door and the world tilts as I take in the strange figure standing on my icy porch in the early morning light.

“Hi,” says Lewis.

THE END

Each book is its author’s baby, and it definitely took a village to bring
Shelf Lif
e into the world. Once again, Najla Qamber blew me away with her cover design, and Jamie Manning not only edited
Shelf Life
, but he was a fantastic cheerleader throughout its creation.

Mom, Dad, I finally wrote a book about Ohio! I hope I did justice to its gorgeous seasons, and I’m so glad you gave me the gift of growing up there.
Jason, thanks for encouraging me to get ’er done and letting me borrow some of your old stomping grounds for the setting.

Thanks to Dr. Duane Cole for answering my questions about hand-milking cows and not batting an eye.

I have a fantastic team of advocates and friends including Malissa Coy (we
are
going to meet one of these days), Mollie Hartup, Jennifer Dee, Carrie Cox and Joyce Scarbrough. You ladies are the best and I love you bunches.

Beta readers Lee Ann Ward and Israel Parker helped me work out the kinks with their wise advice, keen eyes, and kind words. Israel is also the dude behind IJP Press, and it’s hard to exaggerate his importance in writing and publishing this quirky story. He’s a friend, a business associate,
and my writing partner, but those don’t come close to covering his level of awesome or what it means to consider him my “brother.” Thanks, Dude. (Did I include enough food descriptions?)

Finally, I need to acknowledge the
Zippay family. Andrea, your fortitude in the face of adversity is a testament to the toughness of buckeyes. Thank you not only for answering all my farm-related questions (and not laughing at them), but also for the hard work you and Dan do as parents. If there’s ever an apocalypse, I’m coming to your place.

Always a misfit, Stephanie Lawton writes twisted romance that tugs the heart strings then punches you in the gut.

She has a tendency to psychoanalyze
people, which comes in handy when creating characters. She’s fascinated by teacher-student relationships, bullies, psychics, Doomsday preppers and larger-than-life characters.

Making readers squirm is her greatest pleasure. Proceed with caution.

Originally from rural northeast Ohio, she lives in Mobile, Alabama with her family.

Find her at
www.StephanieLawton.com
.

Other books by Stephanie Lawton

Want
(Inkspell Publishing)

Need
(Inkspell Publishing)

Shrapnel
(Evernight Teen)

Other books by IJP Press

Green Valle
y

by
Israel Parker

A serial killer is on the loose in Green Valley, but what if he's the good guy?

The year is 2036 and the United States is pulling out of an economic crisis, thanks to new industries and technologies that thrive in Green Valley, Ohio. Regarded as "America's Hope," the city also boasts being named the safest city in America for five years running. But now Green Valley, one of only a handful of cities protected by the still-experimental Unified Enforcement Police, struggles to catch a new-era murderer who continues to kill and elude capture. As the elite federal police close in on the killer, they discover that something darker has infiltrated their perfect city.

Happily bumbling through his predictable life, Milton Simon comes face-to-face with murderer Clarence Jasper and is surprised to find that the killer has a message for him: JOIN ME. Milton soon learns that not only is Green Valley not the safe haven everyone perceives it to be; it’s Hell on Earth.